Video: Notts Tonight’s Sophia Radcliffe visited the Ice Centre
Nottingham has come together to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The day aims to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world, and calls for action against the gender pay gap.
In support the National Ice Centre is offering £2.50 skating for girls and ladies until 9.30pm, in collaboration with local sports campaign This Girl Can.
Members of the Team GB short track speed skating squad joined pupils from Blue Bell Hill Primary and Nursery School, in St Ann’s, for a skate.
Jennifer Pickering, GB short track speed skater, said: “I think it’s really important to build awareness of women in sport across the world to generate equality for women as well as men.”
The team regularly train at the Ice Centre and reach speeds of up to 35kmph on blades 46cm long and only 1mm thick.
Fellow speed skater Samantha Morrison said: “I think it’s important to celebrate all the things that women do everyday, all the time – like so many accomplishments that aren’t necessarily recognised – and just to show other women and girls everywhere what women can do and what women are doing.”
The Galleries of Justice Museum are holding a free workshop exploring the theme of women, the law and democracy, and debating contemporary inequality issues.
An evening of talks organised by Newark Women’s Aid will take place at East Brigford Hill from 7pm, to highlight the issue of domestic abuse.
An evening of poetry will take place from 6pm at Sobar, on Friar Lane, featuring artists from around the world and an open mic available for everyone who identifies as a female.
The event is on pay-what-you-can basis and all the profits will go to local charities Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre and POW Nottingham.