Women and
girls from across Leeds are being invited to inspire change at a special event
at Leeds Civic Hall this week.
Over 100
inspirational women will be attending the second annual ‘Celebrating Women’
event on Friday 6 March, which is being hosted by Councillor Judith Blake,
deputy leader of Leeds City Council and Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds
City Council.
This year, the
event has adopted the theme of international women’s day ‘Make It Happen’
and will build on the outcomes from the successful inaugural event last year.
The overall aim of this year’s event is
to make sure that women are valued even more in Leeds over the next year - not
just on one day, and to connect mentors and role models to support women and
girls in Leeds.
Guests at
the event will hear about positive activities and ambitions from inspirational
women, including the city’s first female MP Rachel Reeves. Rachel will be
updating the guests on her work with girls at Castleton Primary School around entrepreneurship
and inspiring women and girls, which was started as part of last year’s
conference.
Also
speaking will be Gill Keddie who is on a secondment from Sport England, and
will talk about the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign to encourage more female
participation in sport.
Representatives
from Yorkshire Jets Netball team will also talk about the important role
participating in sport can play in encouraging ambition in girls and young
women. The Jets are one of the top eight teams in the country, and play in the
SuperLeague, which is televised on Sky.
Heather
Nelson JP, chief executive of the Leeds Black Health Initiative, a community
engagement organisation, will be delivering an informative and
thought-provoking presentation on female genital mutilation.
The guests
will also be able to take part in a number of interactive workshops including:
Women
and Democracy – led by Nan Sloane, who is the director
of the Leeds-based Centre for Women & Democracy (CFWD) and has wide
experience of democracy, politics and public life as well as the task of
involving more women in them all.
Leaderful
Women – led by Sue Congram
Founder and Director of Engendering Balance Ltd. and Shelley Adams who has a
PhD in Leadership and has been working with developing women, as well as men
and women together in leadership for over 25 years
Interactive
health workshop – with Heather
Nelson JP, the Chief Executive of the Black Health Initiative, which works to
provide health information to disadvantaged communities, so they can make
informed health decisions.
Councillor Judith Blake, deputy leader
of Leeds City Council said:
“Women
already play a huge role in the strengths and successes of our city so it is
only right that we celebrate their continuing achievements through events such
as this.
“It
is so important that we encourage women from all walks of life to realise their
own potential and take their rightful place in Leeds. Only that way will they
be able to have their say in shaping the city from now and into the future.
Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds
City Council said:
"This
year we are looking at practical examples of how we can help the next
generation of women achieve their potential in Leeds’. We have some really
inspirational stories to tell about the achievements of women and girls in Leeds
and this conference will look at how we can continue to build on these
successes throughout the year, for example though an extended mentoring
programme."
Members of the media are invited to
attend the event at Leeds Civic Hall between 9.45am and 1.45pm on Friday 5 March.
ENDS
For
media enquiries, please contact:
Emma
Whittell, Leeds City Council press office, on (0113) 2474713