It is 2023 in the UK…
Only 63% of girls are able to play football during their PE lessons
29% of small businesses are owned by women
7% of small businesses are owned by an individual within an Ethnic Minority Group
49% of people report feeling lonely sometimes or often
1 in 3 people feel they are discriminated based on their disability
4 Worcestershire businesses are undertaking events to shine a light on the theme
#EmbraceEquity for International Women’s Day in a bid to challenge these statistics and
many more, make sure to check the calendar of events below to get involved!
“We believe that International Women’s Day is an opportunity to shine a light on equity as a while, and to celebrate the opportunity to build others up and support them.”
How can you get involved?
Worcester City Women FC:
On 31st July 2022, England became European Champions for the first time in history.
As a vehicle for empowerment, leadership, and advancing gender equality, football is an
excellent tool for women and girls. Last summer, the Lionesses proved it. Worcester
City Women FC (WCWFC) is a purpose-driven football club committed to leveraging the
power of football for social good. In 2021 the women’s club was formed as a new,
separate entity to allow the club to develop a bespoke, sustainable strategy that will
leave a lasting legacy on the City of Worcester.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is an important day for clubs like WCWFC to raise
awareness and educate others about #EmbraceEquity. Throughout the 7th and 8th
March WCWFC staff and players will be going to schools to talk about their journey in
football and support the FA’s ambition to give all girls equal access to play football in
school by 2024.
Real World Consultancy
Our aim as a provider of small business coaching is to always be approachable,
accessible and fair in order to support business owners to build the business they want,
in a way they want it. Our aim is to ensure everyone feels included, and our focus for
IWD is to focus on what it means to be included.
Follow our social media to follow our campaign from 6th -10th where we will showcase
one short video each day talking to people who we greatly admire locally who have at
times felt excluded, and how we as a community can change that. We are then
welcoming everyone to join us for a coffee morning at our HQ in Worcester to chat to
others, enjoy some cake and a cuppa, and fundraise for Worcester City Women FC.
Find out more
The Kiln
The Kiln is a co-working space in Worcester, providing an affordable workspace for
Worcester’s remote workers and thriving small business community. They have a strong
sense of community and are focused on reducing isolation through connection.
To provide an opportunity to connect with others, The Kiln are hosting a female led
event, Female Hustlers, open to all to attend for £10, 6-8pm on 8th March. There will be
a collection of artists from The Artery Studios speaking out about what it means to be included.
Find out more
Women Who Worcestershire
Women Who, Worcestershire supports female business owners across the county,
providing a safe space for members to network online and in person. In their mission to
fully #EmbraceEquity they will be exploring and celebrating all things diverse, inclusive, and
equitable. Across the week they will be sharing a series of podcast episodes and blog posts
from local business owners exploring topics of race, disability, faith, belief, and LGBTQ+
challenges in business.
On the 8th March they will be hosting a free entry business community event at The
Granary, Worcester between 10am and 3.30pm. With over 30 exhibitors they are
celebrating the range of businesses run by women throughout Worcestershire. The event
will also feature 4 guest speakers: Fiona and Matt Lock discussing gender bias as business
owners, Sarah McDowell sharing insights on how to be an LGBTQ+ ally in your marketing,
Sukhmani Pantal sharing her cross-cultural journey from Delhi to Malvern and Patsy
Holbrook discussing the benefits of recruiting a neurodiverse workforce.