International Womens Day
Barnet Council has launched a new awards scheme to celebrate the borough’s inspirational women and girls of the past, present and future on International Women’s Day (IWD) yesterday (Wednesday 8 March).
The ‘InspirationAll awards’ which were launched at a special event at StoneX stadium will annually recognise the inspiring work and accomplishments of women and girls in Barnet.
Award categories include: Business and Construction, Sport and Wellbeing, Environment and Sustainability, Inspiring Young Woman and Community and Culture. Everyone who lives, works, and studies in Barnet are able to vote.
The StoneX event was well attended by over 150 people from the voluntary, community and faith sector, and key partners including the Met Police. Guest speakers included Dr Doirean Wilson, Senior Lecturer & Diversity Lead at Middlesex University, and Barnet resident Propa Rezwana Anwar, Vice Chair of The Barnet Multi Faith Forum, and Youth Council Events Manager for The Faith & Belief Forum. There were also special performances from pupils at Copthall School and the Barnet Education Arts Trust.
Cllr Sara Conway, Community Leadership and Libraries Committee Chair, said: “International Women’s Day is an opportunity to get together, discuss and celebrate the contributions women and girls are making in Barnet, and to focus on addressing inequalities together.
“We are delighted to launch the InspirationAll awards to recognise and celebrate the achievements of local residents, and to support a range of community events across the borough.
“These initiatives also underline our commitment to improving gender equality and combatting violence and toxicity, changing attitudes by empowering and celebrating women and girls.”
As part of a month-long celebration, the council offered funding of between £500 - £1,000 for community groups, local charities, and organisations to host an event in March. Successful applications included a mothers and daughters programme for the Somalian community in Grahame Park, a community quilt blanket by a church in Barnet, and a synagogues and refugee communities’ event in Finchley.
As part of Barnet’s IDW celebrations, the council also held free physical activity sessions and wellbeing talks in partnership with GLL at Burnt Oak Leisure Centre, and the Children and Youth Parliament took over the chamber at Hendon Town Hall.
Full details of the events and funding can be found online: https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/iwdawards