Barking and Dagenham Council is proud to announce the start of the ninth annual Women's Empowerment Month.

To kick off the month-long celebration, there was a flag-raising ceremony outside Barking Town Hall today (Wednesday 1 March), attended by councillors, staff and members and the public, who gathered to show their support.

Following the flag-raising ceremony, a discussion panel followed to address issues affecting women in the community. The discussion focused on ways to support women in the workplace and the importance of gender equality.

Councillor Sade Bright, Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Aspiration, said,  

“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.

“We encourage all our residents to participate in these events and show their support for women's empowerment in our community.

“Let's work together to make Barking and Dagenham a place where women can thrive and succeed.”

Throughout the month of March, the council will be hosting a series of events and activities to promote women's empowerment. These include workshops, talks, and networking events aimed at encouraging and supporting women in various areas of their lives.

The full programme can be viewed online at www.lbbd.gov.uk/wem to find out more about the events and activities taking place during Women's Empowerment Month.