Nottingham will benefit from a share of £1.2 million to fund projects to celebrate the centenary of votes for women.
Nottingham City Council, in partnership with local women’s organisations, has been granted funding from the Government Equalities Office to celebrate the centenary of British women’s suffrage in 2018.
To mark this milestone seven ‘Centenary Cities’ – Bolton, Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester and Nottingham – will all host a range of exciting projects to celebrate as well as remember those individuals who helped to make this happen.
The ‘Centenary Cities’ project was created by the government to “provide funding to support centenary activities in English cities with histories in suffrage and the suffragette movement”. The project is part of plans to commemorate the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which granted the vote to some British women for the first time in national elections.
In collaboration with the Nottingham Women’s History Group, Nottingham Women’s Centre and The Party Somewhere Else, Nottingham City Council submitted a successful bid for some of this funding. The council and their partners will use the money to plan and deliver a series of events and activities over the coming year.
Activities will range across the themes of art, community, history and politics and will aim to reach as many of the city’s diverse communities as possible. There will be a specific focus on engaging women and girls from all different walks of life.
Cllr Linda Woodings, Executive Assistant for Communications and Community Safety, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our bid for grant funding. This money will support activities in the city to celebrate Nottingham’s unique history of suffrage whilst also exploring what suffrage means in the city today.
“Our aim is to work with community groups to promote women’s equality issues, but perhaps most importantly to support and encourage young women to register to vote.”
Minister for Women and Equalities Anne Milton said: “A huge congratulations to Nottingham, one of our ‘Centenary Cities’ that have been recognised for their proud connection to the suffrage movement.
“Less than 100 years ago, women could not vote and could not stand as candidates for Parliament. By remembering and celebrating those individuals who fought to get the right to vote we are continuing to push for all our political institutions to reflect women’s representation in society. Next year will be an important and exciting year across the country.”
The council are eager that local individuals and organisations with their own plans for next year’s centenary can benefit from the Centenary Cities project. So anyone with an interest in celebrating the centenary in Nottingham is encouraged to get in touch with the team, who are currently working on creating volunteering and engagement opportunities for the centenary celebrations.
For more information, or for any questions or queries, please contact email centenarycities@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
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Notes to Editors
For more information contact Lisa Allison, Media Officer
At present, the Nottingham Centenary Cities website – which will include a detailed and frequently updated calendar of Nottingham City Council and partner events – is due to be launched in early January 2018. The main programme of events will begin in February and March, with other events planned for later in the year.