International Women’s Day unites borough’s females

There’s a real spirit of female empowerment across the borough this week as women and girls come together to mark International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March.

A variety of activities are taking place to celebrate women’s achievements and contributions both globally and closer to home – and there are opportunities for local women and girls to get involved in a show of unity.

On Friday 8 March, IMO and Euro Garages are jointly hosting a #BalanceForBetter event for women to come together over coffee in Starbucks at the Frontier Park services at Whitebirk.

Afshan Akhtar, IMO’s Health and Wellbeing Director said:

This International Women’s Day, we are inviting women in Blackburn with Darwen to meet and share a complimentary coffee with us. We aim to discuss with them some of the opportunities available in the area, and celebrate successful women. We also want to highlight how we can shape the future for local women and facilitate their own success.

Women are invited to drop in to the Frontier Park Starbucks any time between 10am and 2pm.

For more details in advance, contact IMO’s Fatima Patel on 01254 781310 or fatima.patel@inter-madrassah.org.

Then, on Saturday 9 March, the One Voice Women’s Network is inviting women along to its International Women’s Day celebration. With pampering and a high tea on offer, it’s sure to be popular. There will also be a talk on polygamy and bigamy in the Muslim community. The event takes place in Bangor Street Community Centre between 11am and 1pm.

For more information, contact info@onevoicenetwork.org.uk.

And on Sunday 10 March Blackburn Youthzone is hosting its annual Zumbathon to get girls and women of all ages up on their feet to celebrate womanhood. The energetic party takes place between 3pm and 5pm – and you could learn some new moves!

Entry is 50p for young people and £2.50 for adults, and tickets must be booked in advance – call 01254 292000 or email enquiries@blackburnyz.org. (Children under 12 years must be accompanied by an adult.)

Blackburn Youthzone is also launching its female empowerment programme Strong Sisters around International Women’s Day. Aimed at girls over the age of 12, Strong Sisters is a one year programme to help develop young women’s skills to inspire them to be the best they can be. There are still places available on the programme, which runs weekly between 1.30pm and 3.30pm in Blackburn Youthzone. In celebration of International Women’s Day this week, the group will explore the heritage of successful women throughout history.

Blackburn with Darwen’s Young People’s Services is running International Women’s Day sessions in all its junior clubs and youth clubs this week. Children between the ages of eight and 12 years will think about the women they admire, the female role models in their lives and why they are important to them. They’ll also make cards to celebrate their awesomeness.

In youth clubs for 11 to 19 year olds, young people will explore the #BalanceForBetter campaign which strives for gender equality. They’ll consider the achievements of female figures who have made a difference, from former Blackburn MP Barbara Castle to author JK Rowling.

And this weekend a group of 10 girls from different areas of Blackburn with Darwen will join together for a residential to delve more deeply into International Women’s Day topics around gender balance and challenging stereotypes.

Councillor Maureen Bateson, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Education, said:

There are plenty of opportunities for the females of the borough to get together to celebrate women’s achievements this International Women’s Day.

It’s so important in particular that the younger generation are learning about the importance of having an international day to unite women and to take stock of where we are in terms of gender equality. There is still work to do to challenge inequality and stereotypes, but there are many positives to celebrate, not least the inspirational female figures that hail from and have connections to our borough.

One such strong female character is former Blackburn MP Barbara Castle. This International Women’s Day, Barbara’s achievements will be celebrated on bus shelters across the borough, and a campaign to raise money for a bronze statue of her has been launched. Read more about the #StatueForBarbara campaign.