International Women’s Day
We’re proud to have been involved in a hive of activity celebrating International Women’s Day this year, demonstrating our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. The International Women’s Day 2020 campaign theme is #EachforEqual. The theme highlights how we can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements.
We sponsored a fantastic event that took place in Scarborough on Friday 6 March to celebrate International Women’s Day. The Inspiring Women on the Yorkshire Coast event included different workshops throughout the day at Scarborough Art Gallery, Woodend Creative and Kagyu Samye Dzong Buddhist Centre, which were free to attend.
Some highlights include:
• Positive body image
• How to eat well for less
• Young entrepreneurs question time panel
• Chocolate workshop with Crofts Chocolates
• Yoga for mental health & wellbeing
• Shiatsu, bring mindfulness to every move
• Yoga Nidra, a type of deep relaxation
• Mindfulness for busy people with Ani Tselha
• Self-care, loving kindness and self-compassion
• Happiness & wellbeing meditation.
Taking place on the same day was the Redcar and Cleveland Inspiring Women Awards, an annual event celebrates the achievement of women who inspire their community. Nearly 100 people attended the event at the Wilton Centre in Redcar, as the ceremony celebrated its fifth birthday.
Taking home the Mo Mowlam Award, the main prize of the night, was Tina Jackson, who also won the Women in Leadership Award, sponsored by SABIC.
Tina founded The Link project in 2010 to raise the profile of children’s mental health and its effects on families, relationships, education and communities.
The Link has since become an incorporated Community Interest Company and has helped more than 500 children and young people who require emotional and mental health support.
“I was absolutely overwhelmed to win the Mo Mowlam Award,” explained Tina, “Mo Mowlam was a brilliant figure, so I’m incredibly proud and happy to receive this honour.
“It was such a great event, everybody was grinning at the ceremony, but I really didn’t expect to win anything, so it was a big shock.”
Other winners included:
Amanda Smithson won the Individual Achievement Award, sponsored by Beyond Housing.
A volunteer for Footprints in the Community, a charity which helps to try and alleviate poverty and hardship in the local area, Amanda used her initiative to tackle communication problems in the Next Step Shop, a shop which supports people who access foodbanks, by downloading a translator and creating cue cards in Arabic in order to break down language barriers.
Kendra McCormick won the Volunteer Award, sponsored by PD Ports.
Kendra is a volunteer for the Foundation Domestic Abuse Services after accessing the service herself eight years ago. She became involved in running the ‘Freedom Programme’ which empowers and educates other survivors on the affects and impacts of domestic abuse.
Leigh Smith won the Women in Business Award, sponsored by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.
A manager at Shepherdson Court, an independent living scheme in South Bank for more than two years, Leigh has worked hard to secure more than £4,500 in grants and funding in order to help the residents of the area. Leigh also managed to secure Fair Share contracts with local supermarkets which sees food and other products being donated to those in need.
Rayven Skye Masters won the Young Woman Award, sponsored by Taylor Wimpey.
Since winning ‘Redcar and Cleveland’s Got Talent’, Rayven has performed live entertainment all over the area including the Christmas Light Switch On. She is an advocate for mental health having been a victim of bullying and donates her fees from her performances to charity.
Annalice Sibley who won the Inspiring Others Award, sponsored by Sembcorp.
Annalice is in long term recovery from drugs and alcoholism and has used her own story and journey to set up a business helping others overcome their addictions. She supports people who can’t get into recovery and has helped people to learn how to live sustainable, healthy and sober lives.
Empowering women is a huge part of what makes our communities great places to live and work. Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender equal world. Let’s all be #EachforEqual.
