Celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday 6th March and wear something purple!

In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), the School of Engineering and Digital Arts is hosting a charity coffee and cake morning and networking event for all staff and students of the School on Friday 6th March from 10.30 am onwards, in the social area, Jennison Building. Come along and meet representatives from the School’s Athena SWAN Committee and find out about University initiatives which support female students to advance their careers in academia. Members of the Equality and Diversity Team will also be present.

Women’s equality has made positive gains but the world is still unequal. International Women’s Day celebrates the social, political and economic achievements of women while focusing world attention on areas requiring further action. The theme for 2015 is Make It Happen encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women.

Profits raised from the purchase of refreshments from J’s Tea Bar on Friday 6th March will be donated to Women’s Aid, a national domestic violence charity that helps up to 250,000 women and children every year. The organisation works to end violence against women and children, and supports over 350 domestic and sexual violence services across the country.

This International Women’s Day we are asking you to show your support for gender equality, as well as raise funds for Women’s Aid. We also want you to Get Your Purple On! Purple is the domestic violence awareness colour and was also one of the colours adopted in 1908 by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) to symbolise the plight of the Suffragettes. Purple symbolises justice and dignity – two values strongly associated with women’s equality.

Please do make time in your morning on Friday 6th March for a coffee break and chat, to support International Women’s Day and Women’s Aid.

Remember to wear an item of purple clothing if you can!