The theme for International Women's Day this year is Inspire Inclusion. It carries a powerful message: we must actively work towards a world where women are not just present, but truly included, valued, and empowered. It isn't just about celebrating individual achievements, it's about dismantling the systemic barriers that continue to hold women back whether it's unequal pay, lack of access to education and healthcare, or gender-based violence.

For this reason we are supporting Hestia this IWD.

Every year, charity Hestia supports more than 4,000 women and children who have experienced abuse, helping them to recover from trauma and work towards a life beyond crisis. Hestia runs 25 refuges across 11 London boroughs and in Slough, as well as community-based support. Hestia also has teams that work directly with children in refuges, helping them to process and overcome what they have experienced.

Hestia also runs a number of domestic abuse campaigns and tools across the UK, including the Bright Sky app for people who are worried about someone they know, Safe Spaces in pharmacies and banks for people experiencing domestic abuse to use to safely call a helpline or support service, and the Respond to Abuse Advice Line, which provides advice to employers on how to respond to disclosures of domestic abuse.

Please support us in achieving our target, and help the thousands of women and children supported by Hestia to a life beyond crisis. Kate Cawood