Successful International Women’s Day event at Rochdale Connections Trust

Rochdale Connections Trusts’ International Women's Day celebration event this year was a huge success.

After being cancelled for two years due to the pandemic, this year saw two inspirational speakers at the charity’s Drake Street premises on Monday (7 March).

Both Rae Street and Professor Erinma Bell MBE shared their very different stories of courage and standing up and being counted for something they believe in.

There was a huge turnout, the audience consisting of service users, local councillors, staff from the local authority, a group of students from Falinge Park High School, PCSOs and representatives from other faith and community groups.

Everybody thoroughly enjoyed listening to the speakers and celebrating the crucial role that women play in society. The theme this year was Break the Bias and attendees were asked to make pledges about how they can realistically challenge the status quo.

 

 

Rae, from Littleborough, has been arrested, travelled the world and camped out on an RAF base, all in the name of peace. A relentless campaigner, Rae has spent almost four decades fighting to raise awareness of the devastating impact of nuclear weapons and calling for disarmament.

She was a part of the famous Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, the anti-nuclear protest that spanned almost 20 years.

Professor Erinma Bell MBE is a peace activist, renowned for her work tackling gun crime in Moss Side and Longsight.

Erinma was honoured in 2017 with a sculpture designed by Manchester artist, Karen Lyons, which was made out of 50 lethal firearms seized by the police or surrendered during gun amnesties. Erinma is an Honorary Professor at the University of Salford, a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater Manchester and was awarded the MBE for voluntary services to her community in 2008.

 

 

The event was fittingly closed with a short speech by Olga Kurtianyk, the Chair of the Ukrainian Association in Rochdale.

She thanked everyone for the love and support provided to her and the people of Ukraine during this terrible time and provided details of how people could donate to the #HelpUkraine appeal.

Donations can also be made at Rochdale Ukrainian Centre, Mere Street, Rochdale OL11 1HJ.