11:00, 08 March 2021
Words by Smiley Team, Staff Writer, London
It’s International Women’s Day, which marks women’s achievements as well as providing an opportunity to raise awareness of sexism and find solutions to tackle it. Across the UK there are plenty of projects to create gender equality. Why not mark the occasion by doing something concrete for women and supporting one of our top five organisations dedicated to women’s empowerment?
Created in 1866, The Fawcett Society has been promoting women’s rights since 1866, when 19-year-old Millicent Fawcett petitioned for women’s votes. The organisation has a broad mission to campaign for equal pay, representation in politics, to challenge stereotypes and to protect women’s interests throughout Covid-19. This last campaign involves research and awareness-raising initiatives of how women are some of the worst-hit by the pandemic, as the most likely to be doing unpaid care work, with children to look after, or doing low-paid frontline work. To support their work donate or become a member.
Imkaan is a word from multiple languages with meanings including potential and power. Fittingly, it is also the UK’s only frontline women’s organisation tackling violence against Black and minoritised women and girls. It offers support to women, conducts research and trains its members to combat inequalities and violence. To help further their mission donate here.
Working across prisons, hospitals and communities, Wish is the UK’s only user-led charity focused specifically on women’s mental health. Built on an understanding that mental health problems come as much from your external environment as inside our head, Wish’s staff tailor support packages to women that might include anything from financial help to support with housing or legal advice. Donate here or get involved to support their work.
Education and training are integral to driving gender equality. Ensuring that no young woman is left behind in work, Young Women’s Trust offers 18 to 30-year-olds coaching to improve their job prospects through skills and wellbeing support. The organisation researches the lived experiences of women and campaigns for equality at work. Donate or join them to offer more young women better economic opportunities.
Maternity Action supports pregnant women and their families through childbirth and the early years. They are particularly focused on educating people about maternity rights. While their support workers advise women on their rights, their team of lawyers works to defend those rights. To support their work donate here.
