Leeds University Union Marks International Women’s Day with Week of Events

Campus to host series of activities celebrating women and gender issues

Leeds University Union (LUU) is organising a week-long programme of events to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March. The activities aim to highlight the contributions of women and non-binary individuals, promote awareness of women’s health, and foster inclusion across the university community.

Events and Workshops Planned

The week of events, coordinated by Lydia Shale, the Activities and Opportunities Officer, will include a variety of activities designed to engage students and staff. Highlights include:

• 2 March: ‘Celebrating You’ event recognising women and non-binary leaders at LUU, featuring awards, networking opportunities, and refreshments.
• 5 March: Women’s Health event with 12 interactive workshops focusing on bodily and hormonal health education.
• Additional gigs, pop-up events, society activities, and workshops addressing women’s issues and gender equality.

All events are open to the entire university community and aim to be inclusive and empowering.

Ongoing Commitment to Gender Equality

LUU has a history of initiatives supporting women and gender minorities on campus. Recent efforts include:

• 2021/22: Introduction of full-sized period products across campus, championed by student executive Beth Chowdry.
• 2021/22: Launch of Liberate LUU, a programme promoting equal opportunity and wellbeing for women and minority students, led by Natasha Fowler-Ekar.
• 2024/25: Expansion of Women’s+ and mixed gender sports access under Lydia Shale’s leadership.
• 2025/26: Creation of the Students Against Sexual Harassment and Assault (SASHA) Accreditation Programme by Amara Relf, aiming to ensure safety and support in clubs and societies. Amara also endorsed the Trans Open Letter to affirm support for transgender students.
• 2026/27: Introduction of Liberation Engagement Leaders, including a Gender Engagement Leader role to support gender minorities within the Union.

Participation Encouraged

Students and staff are encouraged to participate in the International Women’s Week events to engage with important conversations about gender equality and to celebrate the diverse community at Leeds University.

Further details and booking information for the events will be made available on the Union’s website closer to the dates.