WHO GIVES A TOSS?!

Well, as a headstrong female entrepreneur and wannabe ‘Domestic Goddess’ I do for one. Yes, today indeed is not only International Women’s Day but also Pancake Day!

50 OF MANCHESTER’S INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN UNITE

2011 marks 100 years since the first International Women’s Day took place on 8 March to raise awareness of women’s issues and celebrate their achievements. To mark this, 50 inspirational women from all walks of life in Manchester came together last Friday to launch the IWD programme of events with a group photograph on the steps of Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square.


The 50 strong group included:
 Councillor Suzanne Richards, Lead Member on Women for Manchester City Council
 Sinead Greenaway, CEO of MediaCity
 Sue Woodward, Director of the Sharp Project
 Maria Balshaw, Director of Manchester Art Gallery and Whitworth Art Gallery
 Maria McGeoghan, Editor of the Manchester Evening News
 Katharine Mellor, Partner at DWF
 Melanie Bryan, winner of the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award
 Elizabeth Taylor, winner of NW Primary Teacher of the Year 2010
 Anna-Louise Gilhooley, Founder & Managing Director of The Rejuvenate Group

Joining us at Friday afternoon’s event was Councillor Suzanne Richards, Manchester council’s lead member for women. She said Manchester provides fantastic female role models, who spend every day overcoming barriers to become the best in their fields.

She said: “International Women’s Day is about raising awareness of women’s achievement and also some of the fights and battles we still need to have in terms of women’s equality.
“We still need more women politicians, we still need more women in the board rooms.
“We don’t have equality still in many levels of society so it’s about raising awareness but also celebrating some of the fantastic achievements of women in the UK.”

As the birthplace of women’s suffrage in the UK, Manchester has always been at the centre of the women’s movement and is marking the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day (IWD) with a series of great events around the city including a YouTube channel - 2011IWD 100 years 100 voices – performance art, debates, film screenings and a production of The Vagina Monologues in aid of the Birdhouse Fund (full details at www.manchester.gov.uk/IWD and www.birdhousefund.org)

Whilst thrilled to be part of such a unique event and acknowledged for my business success, I’m not quite yet there with my efforts or skill as a ‘Domestic Goddess’. So later tonight, after I’ve reveled in the achievements of my fellow divas, I’ll grab the tub of M&S ready made batter mix and toss like crazy for the sisterhood!

Manchester City Council worked with Oxfam (part of the EQUALS partnership, a group of leading charities brought together by Annie Lennox to celebrate the IWD centenary), Inspirational Woman Magazine, the Social Media Boom digital agency and Lollipop PR to co-ordinate this unique event. Congrats to all.
By Anna-Louise Gilhooley