International Women's day - inspiring inclusion

In a week that was dominated by budgets - both the council budget and the Government’s - it was great to also be able to celebrate this year’s International Women's Day. 

The event was hosted by Sutton Women's Centre and the South African and Caribbean Cultural Organisation on the upper floor of the St. Nicholas Centre in Sutton High Street.

This year, for International Women’s Day (IWD), the theme is #InspireInclusion to emphasise the importance of motivating others to understand, value and prioritise the inclusion of women to create a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.

It was a fantastic evening of celebration and entertainment with an inspiring group of women and girls. We heard some beautiful music from Shanelle Rudrigo, a 14-year old singer songwriter from Sutton. At the event I even learnt to finger-knit with Samia Tossio from Sami Art, listened to the steel band play and tasted some delicious Caribbean food. Thank you to everyone who helped to organise the event.

In Sutton we are proud of the work we do to inspire inclusion and to make Sutton an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone. However, while we are making some progress with several women in lead roles on Sutton Council, there is still a long way to go before we achieve true inclusion and equality. An inclusive society is better for everyone, women and men alike.