A statement from Councillor Alison Holt on International Women’s Day
Councillor Alison Holt, Sponsor for the Women's (+Allies) Network at Kingston Council, said:
“We are proud to be part of International Women’s Day. Almost 60% of our workforce is female, and there are many women in senior leadership positions throughout the council.
“International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women - while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality. The campaign theme for 2022 is #BreakTheBias.
“There are a lot of things we as a council have done over the last year to break the bias. We became the first local authority in the country to commit to working with charity Bloody Good Period to revolutionise how periods are talked about and support those who menstruate at work; we have committed to becoming a Menopause Friendly Employer, and we have launched the Women’s Hub.
“In 2021, Kingston Council also achieved the White Ribbon accreditation. This accreditation recognises our commitment to tackle male violence against women and girls. A commitment to make it a priority. The work will include increasing the knowledge and skills of staff internally to address violence against women through male ambassadors, working with communities to raise awareness and improve safety for women and girls, and engage with schools and youth settings around preventative work.
“International Women’s Day is not just about one day. We want to raise awareness of women’s issues and empower women by discovering, documenting and celebrating women's lives and achievements. Our vision is of a diverse society where everyone's contributions are celebrated and recognised equally.
“If you have any memories, stories, photographs or reflections you would like to share for Women’s History Month please do contribute to our ‘100 Histories’ digital map.
"100 Histories is a year-long project, celebrating our borough’s heritage - past and present - and we want to use this month as an opportunity to ensure that our local women’s histories are included and not forgotten.”