INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2010

‘Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion’

Women across Bristol are invited to join in on a day of fun,

storytelling, performance, exhibitions, discussions, stalls, and
building a better future for all women in Bristol.

The Bristol Women’s Forum and Bristol City Council’s Equalities

and Community Cohesion Team are working with a number of
community groups such as Single Parent Action Network, Silai for
Skills, Bristol Feminist Network, and individual women to organise
a FREE celebration for International Women’s Day 2010. The
theme for this year is ‘Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion’.

Bristol is proud to celebrate this international event as it

commemorates a struggle for equality by women textile workers in
New York in the 19th Century. It is the story of ordinary women as
makers of history, or shall we say HERstory.

The official date for the celebration is on 8th March, but a full day of
events has been organised by the Brsitol Women’s Forum and
Bristol City Council’s Equalities and Communities Cohesion team
at the Council House, College Green on Saturday 6th March 2010
to 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 focusing
our attention on global gender discrimination. Men and women in
the UK live in such relative privilege and we need to remember the
struggle of women and girls in the majority world.
In Bristol we will be celebrating the strength and determination
shown by women, often in the face of terrible oppression. There is
a long way to go before women truly have opportunities equal to
men, but we honour the achievements made. Every year we get
closer, let's remember that!”

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Barbara Janke, said:

"International Women's Day is an opportunity to reflect on and
celebrate the contribution of women from all walks of life to society
and the challenges they have often had to overcome in order to
make their voice heard.

As part of the celebrations we will be working with a number of

community groups on the free programme of events which will
offer activities to suit a range of tastes. And, this year, we will also
be staging the 11th Women Who Make a Difference Awards to
recognise individual contributions and we are looking forward to
receiving your nominations.”

"When I was first Leader of the Council in 2003, there was not a
single woman on the senior management team. Now there are
three and we have had three women leaders since 2002."

The fun starts at 10am and workshops will be run throughout the
day until 4pm. There will be a whole host of activities for you to get
involved 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 other
women from across Bristol? A free drop in creche is also
available.

If you or your organisation would like to book a place for a stall on

the day, please do not hesitate to contact us here at the Equalities
Team; 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 the
invaluable contributions women are making to improving and
sustaining the communities in which they live and work. So if there
is a woman in your community (she could be your partner, mother,
sister, daughter, friend, neighbour or colleague) who has inspired
you or been a role model - who has made a difference in your life -
please put her name forward. For more information regarding the
nomination criteria please contact Fiona Watson.

For more information please contact: Shagufta Kasour on 0117

922 2358 or Fiona Watson on 0117 922 2329 or 922 2658
Equalities and Community Cohesion Team
Room U16, The Council House, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR.
Fax: 0117 922 2392 or Textphone: 0117 922 2661
email: equalities.team@bristol.gov.uk Or visit our website at
www.bristol.gov.uk or www.bccforums.org.uk/women