WOKINGHAM’S Town Hall was yarn-bombed recently by a craft group’s decorations to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The Barkham Hookers garlanded the town, and crocheted miniatures of noteable female figures for an event hosted by the Women’s Equality Party, Reading and Wokingham.
More than 80 women and men gathered at the Town Hall to hear speakers from non-for-profit organisations highlight some of the oppressions women still face in 2023, and celebrate the individuals and organisations striving to overcome them.
Louise Timlin, branch lead for the Reading and Wokingham Women’s Equality Party opened the event.
She challenged a culture in the UK that leads to a 15% gender pay gap, only 35% of MPs being women, and a woman being killed every three days by a man, in the UK.
Sarah Hacker, from Alana House, Reading, then highlighted the work her organisation is doing to support and empower women across the Thames Valley.
Alana House helps vulnerable women avoid being involved in offending behaviour that could lead to a prison sentence.
Kushinga Hare, from Refugee Support Group, shared the work her organisation is doing to support refugees in Berkshire.
The group supports individuals and families to rebuild their lives after escaping from war, torture and/or modern slavery.
Then Marie Hemmingway from Speak Out Revolution explained how the group gathers and uses data on bullying and harassment in the workplace in order to change unfair working practices.
and poet Fiona Dignan performed a work that she wrote for the event.
A raffle was held at the event.
The Barkham Hookers donated one of the crocheted miniatures, Emmeline Pankhurst, for the raffle, with other prizes donated by Outhouse Brewery and Cook.
Fiona Dignan also donated her poem to be made into a poster.
The raffle raised £300 which will be distributed to the three organisations who spoke at the event.
For information about the groups that spoke at the event, visit the following websites:
Alana House: www.pactcharity.org/alana-house
The Refugee Support Group: www.refugeesupportgroup.org.uk
Speak Out Revolution: www.speakoutrevolution.co.uk
Fiona Dignan: www.instagram.com/fidignanpoems
Women’s Equality Reading and Wokingham: readingandwokingham@womensequality.org.uk
And for information about The Barkham Hookers, visit: www.facebook.com/thebarkhamhookers
