Pupils from secondary schools across the city are set to learn about the history of suffrage today.

Nottingham City Council, as part of centenary celebrations, wants young people in Nottingham to really get a flavour of what it was like to be a suffrage campaigner. Today (Wednesday 14 March) pupils at 16 secondary schools in Nottingham will get their own “suffrage starter pack.” The pack will include:

  • A copy of Emmeline Pankhurst’s “My Own Story”
  • A copy of Nottingham Women’s History Group’s “No Surrender!: Women’s Suffrage in Nottingham”
  • A copy of a new poem on women’s suffrage in Nottingham, commissioned from the city’s Young Poet Laureate, Georgina Wilding
  • A covering letter written by Dr Helen Pankhurst, women’s rights activist and great granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the British suffragette movement.

Pupils are being encouraged to read about the history and get involved with more events being held across the city during 2018.

Cllr Linda Woodings, Executive Assistant for Communications and Community Safety, said:  “It’s so important to teach our children about Nottingham’s unique history of suffrage whilst also getting them to explore what suffrage means in the city today.

“Pupils at our schools, who I hope will go on to vote, should learn how extraordinary people fought for them to have this right to vote. Perhaps this could encourage more young girls and women to register to vote.”

Nottingham is one of only seven ‘Centenary Cities’ – Bolton, Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, London and Manchester – which will host a range of exciting projects to celebrate as well as remember those individuals who helped to make this happen.

Centenary Cities Nottingham is a city-wide partnership celebrating 100 years since British women were first granted the vote. They are organising and supporting a programme of exciting events and activities throughout 2018 to pay tribute to the incredible women (and men) who fought for electoral equality in Nottingham and beyond. 

Local people are encouraged to get involved in the project, by:

  • Visiting the new Centenary Cities Nottinghamwebsite – to see what events are coming up in the city. Local groups can add their own events too – and funding grants are available from the Government’s Centenary Cities fund
  • Dig in the attic for suffragette items – the Centenary Cities team wants to hear from anyone with family connections to suffragettes – whether they lived here in Nottingham or elsewhere. Anyone with items of interest including diaries, letters, sashes and badges is asked to share a picture and some information by email to centenarycities@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

For more information, or for any questions or queries, please contact email centenarycities@nottinghamcity.gov.uk