International Women's Day 2010: Bristol activities

[click on the image to see a larger version]

‘Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion’

Women across Bristol are invited to join in on a day of fun,storytelling, performance, exhibitions, discussions, stalls, andbuilding a better future for all women in Bristol.

The Bristol Women’s Forum and Bristol City Council’s Equalitiesand Community Cohesion Team are working with a number ofcommunity groups such as Single Parent Action Network, Silai forSkills, Bristol Feminist Network, and individual women to organisea FREE celebration for International Women’s Day 2010. Thetheme for this year is ‘Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion’.Bristol is proud to celebrate this international event as itcommemorates a struggle for equality by women textile workers inNew York in the 19th Century. It is the story of ordinary women asmakers of history, or shall we say HERstory.

The official date for the celebration is on 8th March, but a full day ofevents has been organised by the Bristol Women’s Forum andBristol City Council’s Equalities and Communities Cohesion teamat the Council House, College Green on Saturday 6th March 2010to give more women a chance to attend.

Katy Ladbrook, a member of the Bristol Feminist Network said:“International Women’s Day still plays an important role in focusingour attention on global gender discrimination. Men and women inthe UK live in such relative privilege and we need to remember thestruggle of women and girls in the majority world.

In Bristol we will be celebrating the strength and determinationshown by women, often in the face of terrible oppression. There isa long way to go before women truly have opportunities equal tomen, but we honour the achievements made. Every year we getcloser, let's remember that!”

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Barbara Janke, said:"International Women's Day is an opportunity to reflect on andcelebrate the contribution of women from all walks of life to societyand the challenges they have often had to overcome in order tomake their voice heard.
As part of the celebrations we will be working with a number ofcommunity groups on the free programme of events which willoffer activities to suit a range of tastes. And, this year, we will alsobe staging the 11th Women Who Make a Difference Awards torecognise individual contributions and we are looking forward toreceiving your nominations.”

"When I was first Leader of the Council in 2003, there was not asingle woman on the senior management team. Now there arethree and we have had three women leaders since 2002."The fun starts at 10am and workshops will be run throughout theday until 4pm. There will be a whole host of activities for you to getinvolved in including playback theatre, storytelling, dance,discussion groups, an exhibition from local Bristol artists,information stalls, or why not just relax over a cuppa with otherwomen from across Bristol? A free drop in creche is alsoavailable.

If you or your organisation would like to book a place for a stall onthe day, please do not hesitate to contact us here at the EqualitiesTeam; our contact details are at the bottom of the page.

Women Who Make a Difference" Awards 2010

The Women Who Make a Difference Award is in recognition of theinvaluable contributions women are making to improving andsustaining the communities in which they live and work. So if thereis a woman in your community (she could be your partner, mother,sister, daughter, friend, neighbour or colleague) who has inspiredyou or been a role model - who has made a difference in your life -please put her name forward.

For more information regarding thenomination criteria please contact Fiona Watson.
For more information please contact: Shagufta Kasour on 0117922 2358 or Fiona Watson on 0117 922 2329 or 922 2658Equalities and Community Cohesion TeamRoom U16, The Council House, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR.Fax: 0117 922 2392 or Textphone: 0117 922 2661email: equalities.team@bristol.gov.uk Or visit our website athttp://www.bristol.gov.uk/ or www.bccforums.org.uk/women