Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025: Empowering the Next Generation

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a time to celebrate the achievements of women, raise awareness of gender equality, and inspire the next generation to continue striving for progress. As parents, caregivers, and educators, we play a crucial role in shaping the attitudes and beliefs of young minds. This year, on March 8, 2025, we invite you to take a moment to reflect on the incredible women in your life and to share their stories with your children.

IWD is not just a day to acknowledge historical progress; it’s a reminder of the work still to be done. In a world where gender disparities persist, our role as parents and educators is to teach our children the importance of respect, inclusion, and empowerment. By instilling these values early on, we can help create a future where equality is not just an aspiration but a reality.

This year, let’s make a conscious effort to celebrate the women we know who are doing incredible things. Whether it’s a mother balancing work and family, a teacher shaping young minds, a doctor saving lives, or a community leader making a difference, every woman’s contribution deserves recognition.

At PEGS, we are so privileged to know, work alongside and champion both directly and from afar, some of the most incredible women who are doing equally incredible things for their communities and our society. Every single one of these women are our leaders of today alongside encouraging and supporting our women leaders of the future.

To celebrate those we follow, our connections, their work, and the inspiration they provide, we want to dedicate this blog to them.

Sharon Livermore MBE, Founder of Domestic Abuse Education, Cambridgeshire

https://domesticabuseeducation.co.uk/

Arlene Mensah, Senior Lead Survivor Voice at Standing Together

http://www.standingtogether.org.uk/

Chelsea Smith, Smart recovery leader, Pembrokeshire

https://smartrecovery.org.uk/about-smart-recovery-meetings/

Stacey Runciman, Female Future Society and VODAS, Ipswich

https://www.futurefemalesociety.org/

Ayse Adil, CEO Re-mind services and Family based solutions

https://familybasedsolutions.org.uk/home/about-us/

Sarah Taylor, survivor and advocate.

https://sarahtaylorcollaborationsstampingoutpostseparationabuse.co.uk/

Meena Kumari, Founder of Hope training

https://hopetraining.co.uk/about/

Rebecca Zerk, Dewis choice, Aberystwyth University

https://dewischoice.org.uk/

Kate Fejfer – Director of Shropshire European Organisation, Shropshire

https://www.facebook.com/polishcentreshrewsbury/?locale=en_GB

Dr Sally Olewe-Richards Founder of Women of Wisdom and Courage

https://womenofwisdomandcourage.com/

Lee Tempest Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA) Lead VisAble, New Zealand

https://www.visable.co.nz/

Lisa James, Director and Manager of Diverse Support, Pembrokeshire

https://www.diversesupportpembrokeshire.co.uk/

Emily Mitchell, CEO at Rise Strong

https://www.risestrong.org.uk/

Heidi Mavir, Advocate, Activist, CEO of EOTAS Matters

https://www.heidimavir.com/

Steph Cross, Project manager, VC Gallery

https://thevcgallery.com/

Julie Lockley, Administration Officer, Brightstar Boxing, Shifnal, Shropshire

https://www.brightstarboxing.co.uk/

Charlotte Budd, survivor and ambassador for EIDA

https://www.eida.org.uk/resources/self-employed-and-surviving-domestic-abuse-charlotte-budd

Anj Handa, Founder of Inspiring Women Changemakers.

https://www.inspiringwomenchangemakers.co.uk/

Amanda Jones, CEO at Shropshire Supports Refugees, Shropshire

https://www.shropshiresupportsrefugees.org/our-team

Lindsay McGlone - Lindsay recognises and acknowledges that all genders, especially those who are marginalised and underrepresented face discrimination. Lindsay advocates for the LGBTQ+ and trans communities.

https://lindsaymcglone.co.uk/

Mia Gilles, Community Connector, PAVS, Pembrokeshire

https://www.pavs.org.uk/

Emma Harris and Andrea Williams, Cranstoun

https://cranstoun.org/

Jenna Blair, Jenna Blair Yoga, Shropshire

https://www.jennablairyoga.co.uk/

Zoe Brinn

https://zoebrinn.co.uk/

Our last mention is for the incredible Danielle Hurst, who sadly tragically passed away last year. Dani has been part of PEGS since our early days and a friend even longer to our Founding Director. Danielle was a survivor, an advocate and someone who always placed the voices of those who needed support at the centre of everything she did. Her passion, tenacity and determination were something we all benefited from. Our world here at PEGS is smaller (and quieter!) without Dani, but it wouldn’t be right to not celebrate her work and who she was as a woman. Our hearts and thoughts remain with Dani’s family, especially her two children.

A message from Michelle, PEGS Founding Director:

“Thank you for being the woman you are, for using your voice to help those in need, for being part of the change women need. Thank you for inspiring me, for including me in your world, for helping me grow and to be a better leader and woman. I am privileged and thankful to know you, to work alongside you, to celebrate your wins, to watch you grow and soar PEGS and I will always be one of your biggest cheerleaders.”

International Women’s Day is a powerful opportunity to inspire our children to be advocates for equality, to celebrate the women in their lives, and to dream of a world where every person—regardless of gender—has the chance to thrive. By taking small but meaningful actions, we can contribute to a future where our children and all future generations grow up in a more equitable world.

This March 8th, let’s not just acknowledge the achievements of women—let’s celebrate them, support them, and ensure that their stories continue to inspire generations to come.

Happy International Women’s Day 2025!

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Allen Lane Foundation Supports New Workshop Lead Role to Expand Support for Parents

By PEGS Admin • March 18, 2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Allen Lane Foundation has generously funded a new Workshop Lead role to coordinate and deliver online workshops for parents and carers affected by Child-to-Parent Abuse (CPA) over the next 12 months. Parents and carers affected by CPA are often isolated, unsupported, and unsure where to turn. Our 2024 survey shows that 96% of parents feel isolated, 94% stressed, 92% scared, and 100% report an impact on emotional wellbeing. Over 70% have had to reduce or leave work. With demand for support rising to over 450 referrals per month and a 116% increase in November 2025 there is an urgent need for structured, accessible help. Expanding Online Workshops and 1:1 Support The new Workshop Lead will deliver a weekly online workshop for up to 15 participants, covering practical and emotional wellbeing topics such as stress management, goal-setting, and specialist techniques like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Alongside the weekly sessions, the project will also run: Bi-monthly two-part specialist workshops Monthly wellbeing workshops By taking the lead on workshop delivery, the Workshop Lead will free up our practitioner team to provide more personalised one-to-one support to high-risk parents, reaching an additional estimated 50 parents in need. Over 12 months, we anticipate that over 200 parents will benefit directly from group workshops, gaining tools to manage risk, improve emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, and build confidence. The workshops will also create a safe space for peer connection, helping to reduce isolation and foster resilience. Measuring Impact We will track success through attendance figures, participant feedback, and pre- and post-workshop surveys to capture changes in confidence, coping strategies, and wellbeing. Practitioners will also monitor the effect of increased one-to-one support to ensure parents feel safer, supported, and better able to manage their situation. Michelle John, our founding director, says: "Allen Lane Foundation’s continued support enables us to reach more parents and provide the practical guidance and personal support they urgently need. This Workshop Lead role will make a real difference, helping parents feel safer, more confident, and connected, while allowing our practitioners to provide targeted one-to-one support where it’s needed most." We are incredibly grateful to the Allen Lane Foundation for their ongoing belief in our work. This funding allows us to expand our online support, reach more parents, and provide both group and personalised assistance for those affected by CPA.