International Women’s Day event will be bigger and better than ever this year

By Bristol Women’s Voice

Bristol Women’s Voice, and a very dedicated team of volunteers, are shaking off the winter blues and working together on the programme for this flagship event.

Not many free events in Bristol attract as many volunteers to support the programme, or as diverse a range of participants. This year’s International Women’s Day event will bring hundreds of women from different communities across Bristol together, to connect, learn and celebrate. More than 100 contributors and partners will be running workshops, performances, exhibitions, activities and talks in and around City Hall. Activity strands include health, nurture, poetry, music, film and photography, dance and visual arts. There is something for everyone, and we can provide support to help you get there via free public transport, a creche and translation services.

This year, the day-long event will also include an evening programme of entertainment, as well as a march through the centre of the city, so that women can show their support for one another and make their voices heard.

There’s a lot people don’t know about this small charity that packs well above its weight. Bristol Women’s Voice is run on a very tight budget by a staff team of five, all part-timers. In building their vision of equality for women in Bristol, the work they do includes working with transport companies and the council to lobby for urgently- needed improvements in women’s safety on public transport in Bristol.

Bristol Women’s Voice holds the police to account and acts as a critical friend via the Women’s Independent Advisory Group. They support and work with women’s organisations, members and other allies across the city to renew and strengthen their call for change. In supporting part of the Council’s answer to the cost-of-living crisis, they hope to mobilise a team of volunteers to run women-only time slots within the 70 city-wide welcoming spaces. The charity is also putting together a directory of all the services for women across Bristol into one place.

If you’d like to find out more or become a member, visit: bristolwomensvoice.org.uk

If you’d like to volunteer your services and help put on the International Women’s Day event, email: VTcoordinator@ bristolwomensvoice.org.uk

It’s women like you who make these things happen.

Photos: Mireya Gonzalez

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In a written reply to the meeting, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said: “Work on another new station at Ashley Down is due to commence on site in March, subject to the approval of funding by the West of England joint committee at the end of January. Ashley Down forms part of the MetroWest phase two project which will also deliver new stations at North Filton, for the Brabazon development and arena, and Henbury. These new stations are scheduled to open in 2026.

“We continue to work through the combined authority on a future rail vision for the West of England and will look to develop options for potential new stations at St Anne’s, Lockleaze and Ashton Gate.”

The Ashton Gate station is included in Weca’s Joint Local Transport Plan and in its 10-year Rail Delivery Plan for 2020-30 as a potential prospect, although it is understood that no work is currently taking place on this.