Residents of Barking and Dagenham are being invited to enjoy a jam-packed programme of events including exhibitions, workshops and performances, as part of this year’s Women’s Empowerment Month. 

 

Now in its eighth year, the council’s annual celebration marks the contribution women and girls make to the borough and draws on the official theme marked by International Women’s Day which is ‘Break the Bias’, where we all work to forge women’s equality by breaking bias, stereotypes and discrimination. 

 

This year’s Women’s Empowerment Month also draws on the theme for this year’s United Nations International Women’s Day which is ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’, recognising the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on tackling climate change, to help build a more sustainable future for all.

 

Festivities will kick-off with a flag-raising event at Barking Town Hall on Tuesday, 1 March, and residents have the chance to attend a host of online and in-person events throughout the month, including a series of writing workshops and discussion panels run through the council’s Pen-to-Print programme. 

 

There are also a number of events and exhibitions planned by partner organisations including the East End Women’s Museum, Sew London CIC, Arc Theatre, Company Drinks and Studio 3 Arts. 

 

To mark International Women’s Day, on Tuesday, 8 March, a full-day of events, activities, tours and masterclasses are planned at Valence House Museum, including a tea-party celebration welcoming back some of last year’s winners of the Women’s Empowerment Month Awards.

Our borough is full of strong, inspirational women and it is only right that their achievements and valuable contributions are marked as a good thing during Women’s Empowerment Month. 

Councillor Sade Bright, Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Aspiration, said: “This isn’t about singling out women, it is about celebrating women. Our borough is full of strong, inspirational women and it is only right that their achievements and valuable contributions are marked as a good thing during Women’s Empowerment Month. 

 

“There’s so much planned during the month and there’s something for everyone, so please do get involved – you can even do it from the comfort of your home for some of the events.” 

 

For more information and a full programme of events, visit lbbd.gov.uk/wem.