Event calls for Gender Equality on International Women’s Day

Wiltshire Community Foundation and Wansbroughs hosted a dynamic event on Friday, March 7, to celebrate International Women’s Day and champion this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action.’

Held at the Gathering Space in Lacock, the event brought together leaders, professionals, and community members for insightful discussions on gender equality and empowerment. The focus was not only on celebrating the achievements of women but also on highlighting challenges that still exist in workplaces and communities.

The event featured inspiring talks from guest speakers Anna Somaiya, founder and CEO of DiversITy-talent, and Sunday Times bestselling author Sally Page.

Anna shared her personal journey to becoming a leader in the tech industry, discussing her experiences at KPMG IT, where she played a pivotal role in initiatives designed to attract, recruit, engage, retain, and promote women in business. She also talked about how DiversITy-Talent works to inspire young people and other untapped, underrepresented talent pools from diverse backgrounds into business and technology careers. Sally Page offered an engaging look into her path to becoming a bestselling author and her passion for supporting the Wiltshire Community Foundation’s Women and Girls Fund.

The event concluded with a speech from Wiltshire Community Foundation’s Joint Chief Executive, Fiona Oliver, who provided an update on the Women and Girls Fund. Established in 2024, the fund supports local charities and community groups that challenge inequality, abuse, and discrimination while amplifying the voices and experiences of women and girls to drive meaningful change. She also highlighted the vital need for the fund as there is a
chronic lack of funding for women and girls’ groups as they receive less than 2 per cent of the UK's total charitable giving.

To date, the fund has awarded multiple grants to support initiatives that protect and empower women and girls across the county. Examples include:

• Funding for voluntary groups supporting women who have experienced domestic abuse.

• A grant that facilitated the distribution of thousands of period boxes to combat period poverty after a shocking 2023 survey revealed that over 50% of women struggled to afford menstrual products.

• Funding for a pilot programme of workshops in schools for young girls and boys aged 11 to 16 to help children recognise the signs of healthy friendships and relationships and gender-based stereotypes to prevent gender-based violence and abuse.

The event also raised crucial funds for the cause, with 100% of all ticket proceeds and all raffle proceeds going directly to the Women and Girls Fund.

Reflecting on the event, Fiona Oliver remarked: "The Women and Girls Fund is making a tangible difference in the lives of women and girls across Wiltshire, providing crucial support to those facing inequality, abuse, and discrimination. Every grant we award helps create new opportunities, strengthens communities, and empowers individuals to thrive."

"We are incredibly grateful to Wansbroughs for their generous support in making this event possible. Their commitment to championing gender equality and investing in local communities is truly invaluable."

Anna Wensley Stock, Co-Managing Partner at Wansbroughs said: “in just over 12 months, the Women and Girls Fund has already made a real difference, providing much-needed support and opportunities to those in our region. As a proud corporate sponsor of Wiltshire Community Foundation, we are honoured to support this impactful work and will continue to raise awareness and funds where we can.”

Find out more about our Women and Girls Fund here