Town Hall launches search for 100 inspirational Hackney women to mark suffrage centenary

The design featured on badges created by the council to mark the centenary. Image: Hackney Council

Hackney residents are being asked to nominate “inspirational local women” to be recognised for their positive impact on communities throughout the borough.

As part of the council’s year-long celebration of the centenary of women’s suffrage, tributes will be paid to 100 women who are “driving change and making a difference in their community”.

The requirements for nominees are simply that they live or work in Hackney and have contributed positively to the area.

Suggestions provided by the council include equality campaigners, women working to combat domestic violence, community volunteers, artists, and women working in public services.

Meg Hillier (second from left) with staff from Volunteer Centre Hackney

Speaking about the scheme, local MP Meg Hillier told the Citizen: “One hundred years ago we saw a major step towards equal rights for women. But now, as then, there’s still a long way to go and it’s right that Hackney Council leads by example. It’s important to inspire the next generation of girls and women to step up.

“Hackney has many excellent female role models past and present. But some of the strongest and most inspirational women are not those who have titles or positions of power and authority but those who give their time to run tenants and residents associations, local charities, support groups and youth schemes.

“These women, who are often contributing their time for love, not money, do so for the benefit of others. These local heroes are the women who inspire me every day.”

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which extended voting rights to some women over 30 in the UK for the first time.

The scope of that act was widened ten years later, giving equal voting rights to women and men.

A number of events are to be held across Hackney during 2018 to celebrate this step towards universal suffrage and the activism of women which secured these voting rights – including the Making Her Mark: 100 Years of Women’s Activism in Hackney exhibition which is currently on display at Hackney Museum.

Domestic violence campaign group Sistah Space. Photograph: Facebook

Featured in the exhibition is Sistah Space, a grassroots, volunteer-led community organisation which provides help and sanctuary for African heritage women who are victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Hackney.

Sistah Space provides a vital service for vulnerable African heritage women across the borough, but receives no significant funding and is facing serious financial struggles to meet costs and keep its doors open.

The group’s founder Ngozi Fulani said that although the council’s scheme sounds like a good idea in principle, she was unconvinced that it would be inclusive of grassroots campaigners in the black community who often remain “invisible in plain sight”.

She said: “There are so many black women in the community doing so much work, but because the system doesn’t recognise us and we do it underground we just get overlooked.

“The chances are that the majority of black women in Hackney will not even feel part of it [the scheme], and that would be a great shame. It’s just something that won’t be promoted in the black community.”

For the scheme to be successful, Ngozi believes it is essential for it to be inclusive of grassroots community activists and the voices they represent.

She added: “That can only happen if the council engages the community on the ground level. Only we can know what is happening in our community and our culture, and the things that we face.”

Teams from 2016’s Paying For Kicks tournament organised by Romance FC. Photograph: Romance FC

Women’s activism in the community takes many forms, and nominations for sportswomen are among those being encouraged by Town Hall.

Romance FC is an all-female football collective based in Hackney and Tottenham which organises grassroots football events in East London, and has voiced its support for the council initiative.

Speaking about the scheme, Romance FC player Tiger Reid said: “We applaud Hackney Council for taking the time to shine a light on everyday women who make a difference to the community in Hackney and East London.

“Women’s football in itself is a simple act of activism and by taking up space in a still male- dominated world we are challenging the idea of gender.”

Next month the collective is taking part in an event in Tower Hamlets to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, hosting an afternoon of five-a- side football and beginner sessions as part of the borough’s International Women and Girls’ Week.

Tiger said: “By bringing together grassroots women’s football teams from East London, we want to celebrate the right for women to vote and the activism work of the East London Federation of Suffragettes.”

The council has also commissioned commemorative pin badges to mark the centenary, which are available at Town Hall events and given to those who make nominations.

Cllr Carole Williams

Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Human Resources Cllr Carole Williams said: “We know there are local women helping to combat inequality who often go under the radar, which is why we want to showcase them throughout this year to inspire, empower and drive further change.

“We need our residents to nominate their female inspiration – past or present – to help us truly capture the breadth of the great work and achievements of women across the whole borough.”

Nominations can be made throughout the year until November, after which a panel of judges will consider the entries and announce their chosen candidates in December.

To find out more or submit a nomination, visit the council’s website here.