International Women’s Day and our Black and Minority Ethnic Officer, Raushan Rahman was determined that it would help make a difference in Thanet.  She and her family hosted a special fundraiser lunch at the Ramsgate Tandoori in Harbour Street, Ramsgate.  The lunch was in aid of providing a shower for the Salvation Army hostel for homeless people.  A much needed facility and hundreds of pounds were raised.  It was a lively and enjoyable event and Raushan worked out that there were 24 countries represented at the lunch – women from a real range of diverse backgrounds and cultures.  This was such a positive and warm coming together to enjoy good food for a good cause.

Also on IWD, Cllr Susan Kennedy was invited to Parliament to a reception, hosted by Dawn Butler MP, for women from the Labour Women’s Network and other women invited by their MPs.  It was a great turnout and women were able to hear from Jeremy Corbyn, Kate Green, Dawn Butler and others.  A former Labour councillor from Milton Keynes gave a rendition of ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow (you’ll know it from Sister Act) and then led everyone in singing Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry.

Dawn Butler MP and Cllr Susan Kennedy

Jess Phillips MP and Cllr Susan Kennedy

Cllr Susan Kennedy ” After the speeches and singing, it was a really useful networking opportunity to talk to MPs Jess Phillips, Dennis Skinner, Diane Abbott, Kate Green, and others who I missed or didn’t get to talk to, as well as Jeremy. We managed to fit in a bit of a workshop too and talked about the ways in which Labour can and should connect with women across Britain.  It’s vital that we really do listen to women across the country and connect with them.  Women have suffered disproportionately under the damaging austerity measures of this government and we need get our message across that Labour offers a credible, anti-austerity economic strategy.”