International Women's Day celebration comes to The Gather in Eastbourne
Eastbourne will mark International Women's Day on Sunday, March 8, with a community celebration at The Gather in the Beacon Shopping Centre from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
This year's global International Women's Day theme, Give to Gain, highlights the power of reciprocity and support in creating greater equality for women. When individuals, organisations and communities give generously through time, knowledge, advocacy, education or resources, opportunities for women increase and stronger, more connected communities are built.
The Eastbourne event will celebrate the achievements and experiences of women and girls both internationally and locally, recognising women who have influenced change on the world stage as well as those making a difference within the town today.
The event, to be opened by Mayor of Eastbourne, Councillor Margaret Bannister, is free to attend and open to all members of the community.
Councillor Teri Sayers-Cooper, Women and Girls' Rights Champion, said: "International Women's Day is a global celebration of women's achievements and a call to action for equality. While we honour progress made around the world, we also recognise the work still to be done locally.
"The theme Give to Gain reminds us that when we invest in women's voices, leadership and lived experience, everyone benefits. Eastbourne has extraordinary women shaping change every day, and this event is about celebrating them while building momentum for what comes next."
A central feature of the day will be a Living Library, offering visitors the opportunity to engage in informal conversations with inspirational local women. These discussions aim to encourage reflection, connection and the sharing of experiences that can inspire others in their everyday lives.
Living Library inspirational women include:
- Dorit Oliver Woolf BEM, Holocaust survivor and Honorary Freewoman of Eastbourne;
- Mana Ellis from the Sanctuary Café, which exists to welcome people seeking refuge - offering a safe space for community, connection and counsel;
- Laura Murphy, Founder of Wayfinder Woman, which provides a peer support service, using lived experience-led sessions for women in Eastbourne navigating life's challenges;
- Carole Gregory, who works as the outreach trainer for Care for the Carers. Carole cared for her husband who she nursed until he passed away, both of her parents and both of her children;
- Claire Hackney Ring, local artist and founder of Flourish and Thrive, which provides emotional support, peer networks, and confidence-building for survivors of domestic abuse;
- Carol Ann Slater, also an artist but with an extensive history as a dedicated nurse at the forefront of revolutionising the care for people with HIV / AIDS back in the 80's.
Other activities planned throughout the day include:
- A collaborative Give to Gain photography project, with a photographer on site capturing images of participants in a gesture of giving, alongside a community photo collage
- Screenings of Being a Woman, created by Creative Force to celebrate International Women's Day
- Distribution of handcrafted crocheted flowers in the International Women's Day colours of purple, white and green
- A Tree of Inspiration inviting visitors to share quotes or name women who inspire them
- Signposting to local organisations supporting women's health, wellbeing and safety
- An interactive installation gathering views on what women would like to see happening in Eastbourne for themselves, their families and their communities
- White Ribbon pledges inviting men to commit to helping keep women safe and challenge inappropriate behaviour
- Craft activities including decorating wooden coasters and making bead friendship bracelets
For further information about the International Women's Day event at The Gather, please contact: [email protected] or visit lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/IWD
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