The UN's International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March. Every year, Hammersmith & Fulham Council marks the international campaign with a variety of events and activities to help raise awareness and get local residents involved.
In 2023, we extended our campaign to a month-long programme of events in celebration of Women's History Month. See the programme here.
Activities included an evening with renowned actor, writer and women's rights advocate Dame Sheila Hancock, women-led art exhibitions and film screenings, and panel discussions held in partnership with local specialist organisations, commissioned by H&F Council to support survivors of domestic abuse.
H&F continue to work to support and amplify the voices of women and girls and we want to do much more.
Our vision for 2024
March 2024 will see the return of H&F Women's History Month, including the launch of a new Women's Heritage Trail and booklet, dedicated to the fantastic women who have helped transform H&F into the culturally diverse and vibrant borough it is today.
H&F wants to celebrate and support women and girls in our borough. Therefore, we are inviting funding applications from organisations to host events throughout March who are trying to:
- celebrate women within the borough
- re-write women back into the history of H&F
- promote creative and artistic talent of women and girls
- elevate women and girls' participation and achievement in sport, arts, education, STEM
- address further areas supporting the advancement of women and girls
Some inspiration for projects can be found here.
International Women's Day Events (internationalwomensday.com)
Apply for a £500 small grant for Women's History Month
We particularly want to encourage applications from grassroots organisations, in the region of £500.
We are looking forward to hearing about your ideas and receiving your applications.
Celebrating women in H&F
Our borough's present and history are rich when it comes to eloquent and influential women. Many of whom have been honoured with a Blue Plaque in H&F.
They include Esther Bruce, whose autobiography is one first books about the life of a Black working-class women in Britain. As well as Edmonia Lewis, one of the first Black sculptors in H&F. Supermodel Fanny Eaton has been honoured with a blue plaque as well as a memorial in Fulham's Margravine Cemetery.
The suffragette Millicent Browne was also born in Fulham and musician Estelle was born and grew up in Hammersmith, Janet Street Porter was educated at local Lady Margaret School.
As part of our launch of Women's History Month 2023, we curated a list of notable women who have lived or worked in H&F. See the timeline on Twitter.
Women's safety
H&F's number one priority is keeping residents safe, and ending violence against women and girls plays a key part.
H&F is:
- Commissioning and working with a range of local, specialist service providers, including the Angelou service, to ensure women and girls who experience abuse or violence at home have access to the best support available.
- Continuously increasing the safety of women in the public realm through our dedicated Law Enforcement Officers, who work closely with our CCTV control room and the Met Police. They also undergo specialist training to crack down on street harassment and signpost to relevant help and support resources.
- Currently consulting on the introduction of a new Public Spaces Protection Order, which would further prevent and increase our support around street harassment.