11:00 – 12:15 | Women, Entrepreneurship and the Realities of Building Work Around Life

What does it really take for women to build values-led businesses while navigating parenting, financial pressure and the invisible mental load?

Chair: Bianca Jones, EDP Training Ltd

Panellists:  Faye Dicker, Freelance Mum | Dr Nkechi Adeeko, University of Bristol Business School | Dr Roman Barwinski, University of Bristol Business School

Panel curated by the Bristol Women in Business Charter. 

12:30 – 13:45 | Women’s Health: addressing inequity, ensuring health

Chair: Monira Chowdry, Health Task Group West of England Women’s Commission

Panellists: Anne Gachango, Sirona Care & Health | Dr Anju Chowdhary, Wellspring Surgery | Cllr Carole Johnson, Bristol City Council | Jean Smith, Nilaari Agency | Joanna Copping, Bristol City Council | Prof. Nikki Cotterill, University of West of England and Bristol Health Partners | Siny Thankachan, North Bristol NHS Trust

14:00 – 15:15 | Inclusive Growth: building economies that work for women

Chair: Sue Cohen, West of England Women’s Commission

Panellists: Cllr. Heather Mack, Bristol City Council | Helen Godwin, West of England Combined Authority | Dr Ruth Badru, University of Bristol| Samah Krichah, Women’s Budget Group

15:30 – 16:45 | Mothering in difficult times: increasing school exclusions, decreasing SEND support

Curated by Bristol Cable

Chair: Priyanka Raval, Bristol Cable

Panellists: Cllr. Christine Townsend, Bristol City Council | Imrana Bashir, Redfield Educate Together | Lana Crosbie, SENCO | Shanine Wright, Activist

11:00 – 12:15 | Women, Care and Climate: a gender lens on climate change and  how we can take action locally 

Chair: Megan Belcher, Bristol Disability Equality Forum

Panellists: Cllr. Kirsty Tait, Bristol City Council | Lizzi Testani, Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership | Veronica Wignall, Ad Free Cities

12:30 – 13:45 | Tackling Misogyny: holistic approaches to smashing the patriarchy

Chair: Katy Taylor, Bristol Women’s Voice

Panellists:  Alex Wood, SafeLink | Clare Moody, Avon & Somerset Police | Oliver Biggs, Men Acknowledging Patriarchy | Cllr. Stephen Williams, Bristol City Council

14:00 – 15:30  | Finding Common Ground: connecting communities in difficult times

Chair: Sado Jirde, Black South West Network

Panellists: Alex Raikes, Stand Against Racism and Inequality | Finn Mackay, University of the West of England | Kamaljit Poonia, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist & Coach and Facilitator | Cllr. Lorraine Francis, Bristol City Council | Melissa Blackburn, Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust

15:45 – 17:00 | Making AI work for women: opportunities, threats and beating the bias  

Chair: Katherine Ferris, BMT

Panellists: Dr. Beatriz Costa Gomes, Microsoft AI Future | Dr Charlotte Kate Dodd, Ove Care Ltd |Chloe Meineck, Knowle West Media Centre | Dr Coral Manton, Bath Spa University

11:00 – 11:45 | Herb and Movement 

Plants are a wonderful source of nourishment and wisdom. Dance allows us to access and express the narratives we carry, leading to better health. In this session, Insight herbalists Iona and Nathalie offer an opportunity to deepen in relationship with a chosen plant through embodied movement and journeying.

12:00 – 12:45 | The Well of Sovereignty: A Shamanic Drum Journey with Goddess Brigid

Ruth of Starshine Roots guides you on a shamanic drum journey to Goddess Brigid’s sacred well, drinking from waters holding millennia of women’s wisdom. Through drumming, guided visualisation, and embodied sharing, we explore sovereignty—knowing ourselves deeply enough to truly meet each other.

13:00 – 13:45 | Weaving Our Stories: Art as a Bridge Between Women

Weaving Our Stories: Art as a Bridge Between Women. Black Women Let Loose Theatre Company workshop will use creativity to express unity and celebrate diversity.  Participants are invited to share personal stories of resilience and connection. Together we will create a collage, representing shared values – Our stories are our strength.

14:00 – 14:45 | Butt Naked

The workshop will be interactive,and discussions will be based around Integrate UK’s award-winning music video, Butt Naked, which was developed by young activists from Integrate UK to highlight the impact of explicit content online on young people and on sexual violence.

15:00 – 15:45 | Singing for the Brain

Led by Bev Burne from the Alzheimer’s Society, Singing for the Brain uses music therapy and singing to improve brain activity and wellbeing for those affected by dementia. This taster session includes vocal warm-ups and singing familiar and new songs. No singing experience required—all welcome.

16:00 – 16:45 | Play Voice Movement

Play and creativity can empower women and femme folk to express themselves fully. Inspired by improv theatre, play therapy, intuitive movement, and sound healing, this workshop by Echo Therapies offers a joyful yet meaningful experience. Together, we’ll break down barriers, explore our voices, and awaken powerful parts of ourselves waiting to be discovered.

11:00 – 11:45 | Sound journey with Liv Waa 

 A nourishing sound journey to open the day. Gongs, bowls and soft percussion guide you into calm awareness, grounding the body and settling the nervous system before a full programme of inspiration, learning and connection.

12:00 – 12:45 | Self-Care Is a Right – Socio Aesthetic Workshop

Social beauty practitioner, Natacha Sullivan, invites women to pause, nurture themselves, and honour their hands. Through a simple manicure and gentle hand massage, participants reconnect with their bodies, celebrate their strength, and experience a quiet, caring moment for themselves reminding them that taking care of themselves is a beautiful act.

13:00 – 13:45PM |Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation

14:00 – 15:45 | Head Massage & Chair Massage

Short Indian Head Massage, and seated back, neck and shoulder massage available from Sophie Shirt and Revitalise Massage. Bookable on a first-come-first-served basis. All treatments are performed fully clothed and are oil-free.

The programme for this room has been curated by SARSAS, NextLink and SafeLink. 

11:00 – 11:45 | Morning Movement by Eri 

Eri from SARSAS will be offering an inclusive space for meditation and movement to begin the day.

12:00 – 12:45 | Conversations with Children; Consent & the Body

Some conversations are trickier than others. Join SafeLink to explore and discuss how best to talk to young children about the meaning of consent and body autonomy. 

13:00 – 13:45 | The Power of Group Work, Creativity and Play in Feeling Connected and Calm delivered by Susannah 

Curious about creativity and wellbeing? Join SARSAS for this interactive session. Build The World’s Best Tower with LEGO, explore Zentangles, a calming doodling practice, and reflect on rhythmic breathing to reduce stress. Create a breathing pattern keyring as a practical reminder for everyday calm. No experience needed.

14:00 – 14:45 | Tackling Misogyny workshop 

Led by SafeLink, come and discuss the ever-increasing reports of children and young people experiencing everyday misogyny and how this can escalate to incidents of sexual violence and assault. 

15:00 – 15:45 | Recognising and Responding: Supporting Survivors in the Workplace

Delivered by SARSAS and Safe Link, this interactive workshop builds understanding of domestic abuse and sexual harassment, their impact, and how to recognise warning signs. You’ll learn safe, trauma‑informed responses that uphold dignity and choice, and gain practical tools to challenge harmful behaviour, support survivors, and help create a safer, more compassionate workplace culture.

16:00 – 16:45 | Create your own wellness journal 

Journaling can support our mental wellbeing, and encourage us to inspire and be inspired! Come and create your own wellness journal in this creative collaging session with Missing Link. This is a relaxed drop-in session, suitable for all ages that can handle scissors and glue.

11:00 – 11:45 | Changing the Story: Bristol Older People’s Community Climate Action  

12:00 – 12:45 | Redefining the Cycle by Kira Goode 

Join Kira, co-founder of Eleria for an insight-driven workshop exploring menstrual cups, sustainable period products, and women’s health. We share what we’ve learned from real users, open the conversation around stigma and confidence, and empower participants to make informed, sustainable choices.

13:00 – 13:45 | Unite the union: campaigning for women’s issues in the workplace

Discover how to campaign effectively for women’s issues in the workplace and harness the collective power of women’s unity. This session explores practical strategies, shared experiences, and ways to challenge inequality, empowering women to advocate for change, strengthen their voice, and create fairer, more inclusive working environments.

14:00 – 14:45 | In Search of Her Stories: using archival records to research women’s history

15:00 – 15:45 | Dreaming for the future

This interactive workshop invites participants to dream of the future, a collective act of imagination, care, and resistance. Centering (all) women and non-binary people’s experiences of culture, identity and the future—we’ll use creative exercises to share, listen, and dream of the future we are longing for.

16:00 – 16:45 | Bristol Portrait Club

Bristol Portrait Club Join Giuliana Terran for this fun and relaxed drawing session where we draw 10 minute portraits of each other.

Everyone welcome even those that say they can’t draw! Materials and drawing boards provided.

11:00 – 11:45 | More than a Camp Fire: Women’s Writing Ushering the Change

This workshop with Muneera Pilgrim explores women’s writing across history, showing how it fuels change, community, and activism. It highlights diverse cultural traditions and the creative tools women used to confront their times. Ultimately, this workshop urges women to embrace their roles as storytellers and guardians of truth, driving transformation in the world today.

12:00 – 12:45 | Do I Need a Purpose if I’m Not having Kids?

Women’s roles are often closely tied to motherhood — but what if you choose a different path? This interactive session by Bristol Childfree Women explores how childfree women find meaning, identity and fulfilment on their own terms, featuring personal stories and open conversation. Welcoming childfree, childless, undecided women, and anyone curious about purpose beyond motherhood.

13:00 – 13:45 | The Launch of Bristol’s Lesbian Archive

This is the launch of Bristol’s first Lesbian Archive. The BLAST collective has been busy all year interviewing women and collecting personal stories, music, poetry and precious memorabilia. Some of the exhibits will be on show, and there will be an opportunity to share experiences of lesbian and queer women’s self-organisation.

14:00 – 14:45 | Beer that is Brewed to Give

Join Bristol Beer Factory (BBF) as they share the story of their first IWD brew: COWGIRL SUPERNOVA, a 5% Kolsch IPA. Created by the women of BBF, using Yakima Chief’s Pink Boots Hop blend, with 2% of sales supporting Bristol’s women and trans community. When the talking stops, taste it yourself. Cheers team!

15:00 – 15:45 | Community solutions to misogyny : How we can unite women through shared experiences and community-based solutions.

In this workshop by Girlhood Reclaimed & Eastside Community Trust, we explore misogyny’s impact and harm in our lives and communities. Through shared experiences, we’ll examine how to collectively tackle misogyny and discover practical approaches to challenge it within our communities.

16:00 – 16:10 | Raffle Prize Draw

Find out the raffle prize winners! Purchase a raffle ticket from Bristol Women’s Voice stand in the Main Hall.

11:00 – 11:45 | Family Friendly Boxercise with Jump Start

Jane from Jump Start will provide a taster boxercise session for up to 12 people. Suitable for children 7+

12:00 – 12:45 | Mindful Pilates with Miriam

Join Miriam for a Mindful Pilates session focusing on mobility, flexibility and core strength to improve your posture and wellbeing. Moving slowly with intention and awareness, this class welcomes all levels, from complete beginners onwards. Please bring a mat and towel for support, and wear comfortable clothes that you can move freely in.

13:00 – 13:45 | Soulful yoga practice with Hana Masters from Rebel Girls Club

Hana (she/her) of Rebel Girls Club is an experienced yoga teacher blending her Punjabi heritage with contemporary asana and mindful, embodied practice. Committed to cultural integrity, social justice, and community care, she creates inclusive spaces that nurture resilience, connection, and compassion through thoughtful movement, philosophy, and breath-led exploration.

14:00 – 14:45 |Feminist Self-Defence

A discussion around detection and disruption of misogynistic behaviour by verbal and physical skills by Sister Courage Self-Defence. 

15:00 – 16:30| Discover Women’s Fitness with Everyone Active

11:00 – 11:45 | Art and Music: the Overlap

Fun, interactive art and music workshop aiming to produce a communal piece of artwork for International Women’s Day.

12:00 – 12:45 | Art, Heart and Hope: Wellbeing with Beloved

In Beloved’s style, join our reflective art workshop whilst hearing about our work supporting women in the indoor sex industry with signature cupcakes to enjoy and space to chat.

13:00 – 13:45 | Bristol Girls Can: Overcoming Adversity to Rejoin Sport.

This talk explores the vital role of physical activity in women’s health. We’ll discuss exercise across the menstrual cycle, common gynaecological conditions, pelvic floor and breast health, and menopause, offering practical, evidence-based guidance to support confident, informed movement at every life stage for all ages and abilities.

14:00 – 14:45 | Nature & Art for Wellbeing: An art workshop for families to explore feminist sculpture using clay and natural forms

A creative clay workshop with Charlotte Hawke for families to explore important women in their lives. Work collaboratively to create a sculpture of a mother, aunt, grandparent or feminist icon! Adorn your sculpture with natural forms, leaves and flowers, before taking it home to display.

15:00 – 15:45 | Paper Dolls & Maternal Lineage: A Creative Reflection Workshop

Join artist Pippa Grace for a gentle craft-and-conversation workshop exploring maternal lineage. Using simple paper‑doll chains, we’ll reflect on our relationships with mothers, grandmothers, great‑grandmothers and beyond. Inspired by themes from Mother in the Mother, this session offers space for connection, storytelling and insight. All welcome.

16:00 – 16:45 | Saree Draping Workshop 

Discover the beauty and heritage of Bangladeshi saree traditions in this welcoming, hands‑on workshop. Led by the Bangladeshi Bristol Women’s Group, participants will learn elegant draping styles, explore cultural meaning, and enjoy a warm, community‑centred experience celebrating skill, identity, and artistry.

11:00 – 11:45 | Men Acknowledging Patriarchy: Understanding, Unlearning, and Allyship

Through group discussion by Orchid Collective, this workshop aimed at men who are interested in standing up against misogyny, will look at what allyship is, how we can best participate in ending gender based harm, and the harms that can be caused by performative allyship.

12:00 – 12:45 | Stronger Together

This workshop will explore community engagement, overcome challenges and build resilience with insights from Refugee Women of Bristol, a women-led organisation empowering refugee and asylum-seeking women through supportive services, peer networks, skills development and inclusive dialogue that fosters confidence, connection and lasting impact.

13:00 – 13:45 | Empowering Women to Food Equality

14:00 – 14:45 | Be-longing the city: Moving, Knowing, and Re-making the City

Be-longing in Bristol is a participatory workshop bringing together women to share everyday experiences of visibility, safety, and presence in the city. Through conversation and affective counter-mapping, participants collectively map where they feel able to linger, move, avoid, or claim space in daily urban life. Come and help build the map! 

15:00 – 15:45 | Belonging in Common – A Celebration of Values

With the Nelson Trust’s expertise in supporting women and Prodigal Arts’ transformative use of art, this mixed‑media workshop invites reflection on the values that shape us. Participants will be invited to create expressive artworks, uncovering the common threads that bring us together.

Uncovering Bristol’s Hidden Activists | Park Street Vestibules

Bristol Women’s Voice has developed a deck of cards with illustrations and stories of inspirational historical women from Bristol. Women who made a difference, but whose stories may not be told often. This exhibition will showcase the wonderful artwork created by Bristol-based artists, which is featured on the cards.

Where dance happens, things get healed | The Foyer

Tell us where you would like to gift a dance in Bristol. In this interactive exhibition, we show strings of our thoughts, feelings, doings, and knowings that pass between us and places in the city. 

Shine a Light on Care | Deanery Road Vestibules

Shine a Light on Care is an exhibition curated by Bristol Women’s Voice that brings together the voices and creativity of Bristol’s caring community. It features handcrafted lanterns and strike placards made by women and carers across the city to call for greater recognition and support for mothers, parents and carers in workplaces and society.

11:00 – 15:00 | Messages of Hope | Outside

As part of this participatory display, we invite visitors to write Messages of Hope on ribbons and tie them along the railings leading to City Hall. Each ribbon carries a wish, a dream, an expression of hope, creating a collective artwork that celebrates women’s voices, community power, and our collective hope for a fairer and kinder future.

13:00 – 16:30 | Reflection Zone | The Foyer

Share your feedback on this year’s event and suggest themes for next year using our interactive boards. Help shape future celebrations and keep our community inspired.

The Vestibules 

The Vestibules are two former entrances located at either end of City Hall. To access the exhibitions, please use the former vestibule entrance to City Hall on Park Street and Deanery Road. There will be a board outside directing you to the space. 

Accessibility Information: 

The Park Street Vestibule and Deanery Road Vestibles is fully wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, there is no toilet access for visitors through the Vestibules, toilets are located inside City Hall.