You can sign up for a variety of sessions from 5th-8th March spanning HERstory, Healthy Relationships, Black Women Matter, Rebel Women’s Sing-Along, Laughter Yoga, Courageous Conversations Café and more – discover the whole programme below or at: https://iwdderby.eventbrite.co.uk where you can book your ‘donate what you can’ or free (financial hardship) tickets and register any access requirements. There is something for everyone, with an important variety of spaces; some sessions are open to all genders, some are for self-identifying women, some welcome non-binary folx who feel affinity or siblinghood in spaces that centre women’s experiences, some are great for children and young people to participate with an adult – please see each event description on eventbrite for details.
Feminist Friday 5th March >>>
Inspiring content online all day via facebook and social media @WomensDayDerby plus virtual sessions:
11.00am – 12.30pm Let’s Really Listen and Be Heard – online mutual deep listening session; for women/womxn and non-binary folx who feel affinity or siblinghood in spaces that centre women’s experiences; come to a safe space, be listened to, and hear other women’s voices. A different way of being together where every voice counts. An inclusive space, with equal uninterrupted talking time, disrupting inequalities; we are keen to include womxn who facilitate diverse groups, community projects and parents/carers, who often miss out on the chance to be heard. Led by Marguerite, a trainer with Sustaining All Life – invitations to this session have been sent to womxn involved in local community organising and womxn’s charities, who may wish to adopt mutual listening circles or techniques in their groups as well as in day to day life. If this sounds like you, and you would like to take part, please contact us for details
7.00pm – 11.00pm Feminist Friday Virtual Party – in partnership with She Speaks UK, The Maypole & EMBAA (East Midlands Black Arts Associated) & BexStar Entertainment Productions. Headliners include fun-filled social commentary comedian Ishi Khan, local star Kirby who reached the knockout rounds on The Voice UK, poetry slam powerhouse Aoife O-Connor and mighty singer Donna-Briscoe-Greene. We’ve programmed a great night of powerful poets & spoken word, dance, disco, comedy, singers, and performances to celebrate, participate and liberate! Amplifying womxn and girls, with an online audience with supporters of all genders welcome. The first half is family friendly, with an interval and music/disco at 8.30pm and more mature themes after 9pm. Book via https://iwd2021-derby-feministfriday.eventbrite.co.uk
Saturday 6th March: Sisterhood Saturday >>>
11am-12pm Comedy Workshop with Ishi Khan This is a fun online workshop where you can learn tips on how to make your work humorous. We will explore what makes your work funny and how to develop a seemingly simple idea into a humorous piece of writing. Participants are encouraged to bring along the ideas or creations that they would like to add the funny to. These creations can include poetry, prose, sketches, plays, speeches, blogs or even a blank sheet of paper with no idea! Beginners are very welcome. Comedy is great to express yourself, de-stress, boost confidence, engage folks, spread joy and exercise your funny muscles! Women/womxn and girls and non-binary folx who feel affinity or siblinghood in spaces that centre women’s experiences; under 16s can take part with adult supervision. Book via: https://iwd2021-comedy.eventbrite.co.uk
11am-4pm Craftivism Exhibited at Derby Arboretum and online via facebook If you take your allowed socially distanced exercise at the beautiful Derby Arboretum, look out for our craftivism created by more than 60 local women/womxn and girls, in partnership with Spiral Arts with thanks to Central England Cooperative; the craftivism will also be displayed in the park throughout March. Please take precautions to cherish everyone’s lives and protect from Corona Virus including social distancing, washing hands, wear masks if possible, and please do not attend if you have symptoms or have been advised to self-isolate, and follow the latest guidelines at: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
We will also publish photos & videos of the craftivism online via our facebook page – we’d love to see your photos, artivism and pavement chalking – like the Suffragettes did – wherever you are! You could make a banner, window display, chalk a feminist slogan or take a #ChooseToChallenge selfie (raise a hand showing your palm up to the camera, like a ‘stop’ gesture, or adapt to work for you) #IWD2021
Self-Care Sunday 7th March >>>
11am-9pm FREE Follow our Self-Care Sunday Virtual Trail via Facebook – explore a variety of womxn’s arts & crafts, wellbeing, projects, affirmation gifts & enterprise taking part, plus inspiring online content all day including activities for mindfulness
Book your Donate What You Can / FREE tickets for these wellbeing-boosting online sessions; these session are for women / womxn, self-identifying, and non-binary folx who feel affinity or siblinghood in spaces that centre women’s experiences; children welcome to join with adult supervision – see age guide for each event >>>
10.00am – 10.45am Mindfulness with Pam Sidhu In these trying times taking care of our wellbeing is more important than ever. This 45-minute session will explain mindfulness, what it means, how it works and an opportunity to slow down and try a mindfulness activity. Children 11yrs+ welcome with an adult. Book via: https://iwd2021-derby-mindfulness.eventbrite.co.uk
11.00am – 12.30pm Rebel Women’s Sing-Along – join us to sing uplifting and empowering songs by, and about, inspiring women. Raise your voice! All women are welcome to come and sing for fun, friendship and wellbeing. No singing experience needed, shy singers welcome. Together we’ll sing songs of women’s rebellion and change-making. Girls 8ys+ welcome to join in with adult supervision. With choir leader Jo Lewis. Book via: https://iwd2021-derby-rebel-women-sing.eventbrite.co.uk
1.00pm – 1.30pm Laughter Yoga with Ishi Khan – Let’s laugh those fears away, and enjoy our best Sunday! Join in with some light hearted, uplifting laughter yoga games. In this 30 min laughter yoga session, we are going to release anxieties, nurture our inner laughing champions and be silly because we are worth it! There will be smiling, standing, clapping and laughing. Wear something comfortable and bring some water to chuck at each other, haha not really, you’ll ruin your laptop if you try that! Do bring the water, but let’s drink it. Let’s say yay to fun. It’s our Fun Sunday! Children can take part with an adult. Book via: https://iwd2021-laughter-yoga-derby.eventbrite.co.uk
2.00pm – 2.45pm Bollywood Dance-Along with Nisha Nath, Surtal Arts – push back the sofa and dance along at home for wellbeing, movement, exercise, expression and joy! Children 5yrs+ welcome to join in with adult supervision. Book via: https://iwd2021-bollywood-dance-derby.eventbrite.co.uk
3.00pm – 4.30pm Songcrafting Basics for Womxn – start writing your own songs! Pick up some basic songcrafting tools in this fun online workshop with Josephine Lewis & Maria Machin. Girls 11ys+ welcome to join in with adult supervision. Book via: https://iwd2021-derby-songcrafting.eventbrite.co.uk
5.00pm – 6.00pm Self-Care Café – Join Emma and Sam from ‘Derby Rebel Projects’ on this special ‘International Women’s Day’ Self-Care Café where we will take you on a journey to help you unwind, relax and have fun, you deserve it! With creative relaxation and meditation activities on offer. Book via: https://iwd2021-selfcare-derby.eventbrite.co.uk
Monday 8th March: Official International Women’s Day (IWD) – Derby joins the global celebrations! >>>
11am-9pm FREE Follow our Virtual Trail via Facebook – explore a variety of organisations, local agencies, women’s charities, projects & enterprise taking part, plus inspiring online content all day. Join the global conversation online with #ChooseToChallenge
A day of Courageous Conversations – book your FREE / Donate What You Can tickets for these inspiring online sessions >>>
Thanks to Derby City Council for funding BSL Interpreters for these virtual events on 8th March
11am-12pm Let’s Talk Healthy Relationships with Relate Derby Good quality relationships are vital for our mental health, physical health and well-being so join us to discuss this important subject together. Add your thoughts to the conversation on spotting the signs of unhealthy controlling behaviours and boundaries for self-respect. Women/womxn & Girls 11yrs+ welcome with an adult. Book via: https://iwd2021-relate-derby-healthy-relationships.eventbrite.co.uk
1pm – 2.30pm Anonymous was a woman – where is Derby’s HERstory? Whilst famous men from the city’s past such as Wright, Strutt, Curzon, Royce and Clough are celebrated in the city’s naming of streets, buildings and exhibitions, what is known of the women who made an impact? Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s famous quote ‘for most of history, anonymous was a woman’, this panel will discuss the local women overlooked by the history books. With Sonya Robotham – Vox Feminarum & Deeds Not Words Towards Liberation, Laura Phillips – Head of Interpretation & Display at Derby Museums and Vanessa Boon – IWD Derby, uncovering over100 years of local HERstory, with Q&A. Who for? All genders welcome; children 11yrs+ with adult supervision. Book via https://iwdderbyherstory.eventbrite.co.uk
4.30pm-6.30pm: Courageous Conversations Café – drop in any time for as much or little as you like, maybe with a cuppa? Join us with the questions you feel we need to discuss this International Women’s Day #ChooseToChallenge – gender inequalities, women’s lives during the pandemic, objectification, consent, violence against women, detention of women, intersectional feminism, far right attempts to hijack women’s issues, women rising up around the world, the injustices and the actions we can all take including social media action during this session together… and whatever else you want to talk about! Come share & plug your womxn’s/girls’ projects too. Facilitated by Vanessa Boon. Who for?: Women/womxn and non-binary folx who feel affinity or siblinghood in spaces that centre women’s experiences and girls 11yrs+ (some mature and challenging themes will be discussed – you know your kids best) Book via https://iwd2021-derby-courageousconversations.eventbrite.co.uk
7pm – 8.30pm Hidden Figures – Black Women Matter – join us for an inspiring online panel discussion with the women of Derby’s Black Community Matters Committee, co-creators of the Black Lives Matter Derby Manifesto, and guests, sharing experiences of being hidden figures, the heroes who encouraged them to step forwards and rising up to create change, with Q&A. Who for? Women/womxn of all ethnicities and non-binary folx who feel affinity or siblinghood in spaces that centre women’s experiences; children 11yrs+ with adult supervision. Book via https://jus-tickets.com/events/hidden-figures-black-women-matter
