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Leeds charity launches campaign to mark 100 years of women’s suffrage

A Leeds-based charity for young women has launched a 100-day campaign to celebrate the century of voting rights for women.

Established in 1988, Getaway Girls will host ‘100 dreams, 100 days’, starting on Monday 21st May 2018. The campaign will involve 100 young women from across Leeds, who will each share their dreams for the future on Twitter, using the hashtag #100dreams100days.

The 100 day-long campaign is inspired by a quote endorsed by women’s rights advocate and royal newlywed, Meghan Markle, who said “girls with dreams become women with vision” at the UN Women’s Conference on International Women’s Day in 2015.

To mark 100 years since some women were granted the right to vote, Getaway Girls will also hold an event on 6th August 2018.


A member of Women’s Lives Leeds, Getaway Girls’ event will be one of several Women’s Lives Leeds events to be hosted across the year funded by The Centenary Cities Fund.

Women’s Lives Leeds is a partnership of eleven women and girls’ organisations in Leeds, aiming to empower women and girls to lead healthy, safe and fulfilled lives.

Getaway Girls empowers girls and young women aged 11 to 25 to build confidence, resilience, raise aspirations, develop new skills and take positive risks in an environment which offers co-operation and support. The charity has supported thousands of young women across Leeds over the past 30 years.

The event will feature speakers, performances and workshops, which will focus on five key issues, each chosen by the Girls and Young Women’s Forum. The chosen key issues are: equality, opportunities for girls, freedom, diversity and identity, and staying safe.

To get involved in the campaign, follow @getawaygirlslds on Twitter and use the hashtag #100dreams100days.

Commenting on the campaign, Flavia Docherty, director at Getaway Girls said:

“We wanted to commemorate 100 years of women winning the right to vote in a way that cele-brates young women reaching for their dreams and aspirations. It is such a significant milestone and we want girls and young women to understand the importance of utilising their vote when the time comes.

“We hope that young women feel empowered to share their dreams for the future and start to en-vision these as their reality.”

Leader of Leeds City Council and Women’s Lives Leeds ambassador, councillor Judith Blake, com-mented:

“I am delighted to see the upcoming Women’s Lives Leeds events celebrating 100 years of Women’s votes.

“It’s great to see Getaway Girls giving girls a voice in Leeds and helping to raise their aspirations. I hope this campaign opens the eyes of many young women, and shows them that their dreams and ambitions are achievable.”