Celebrating Bankside’s inspiring women this International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day on 8 March celebrates the women shaping our communities. This year’s theme, Give to Gain, highlights how generosity and shared support create more opportunities for women – and how, when women thrive, we all benefit. 

Bankside has a long history of women driving social change, from national reformer Octavia Hill to local hero Alice Ayres, whose courage in 1885 saved the lives of three children.  

That same spirit continues today, through the women leading many of Bankside’s charities now: modern social reformers making a real difference to people across our neighbourhood. 

• Becky Booth and her team at The Bridge, empowering women to make positive changes and reduce health inequalities. 
• Charlotte Gilsenan, CEO of Bankside Open Spaces Trust, championing green spaces that enhance the health and wellbeing of urban communities. 
• The team at women-founded Blackfriars Settlement: Andrea Von-Sittart, Tina Johnson, Sieglinde Cosias, Renuka Bhakta, and colleagues, led by Therese Reinheimer-Jones, CEO of Mary Ward Settlement Group. 
• Lisa Moodie, who leads Robes Project and its essential work with people experiencing homelessness in Southwark and Lambeth. 
• Bisila Noha, Chief Executive of the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, leading its work to create a more connected and thriving LGBTQ+ community in London.
• Dee Vadukal, CEO of Plan Zheroes, building on the legacy of co-founder Lotti Henley, whose own experience of hunger shaped the mission to tackle food waste and food poverty. 
• Karolina Muszynska at The Manna Society, continuing the work begun by founder Nanette French to care for people who are homeless and those in need. 

Each of these inspiring women is helping build a fairer, more connected Bankside – and there are lots of ways you can support them. 

As part of our commitment to a stronger, greener, happier Bankside, we will be relaunching our volunteering programme soon, making it even easier to connect with these charities and others, to find meaningful ways that you can also make an impact on our community. 

The Bankside Women’s Network are hosting an event to celebrate International Women’s Day with expert speakers from The Bridge, as well as profiling other Bankside based charities that provide tailored advice and support on a range of women’s health issues. 

Join us this International Women’s Day as we embrace the spirit of ‘give to gain’ by backing the brilliant women shaping our community today.