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Helen Clarke Newground. Credit: Scout Stuart, Goalclick Captain at a grassroots women's football team - Newground United, Ashlea Sands spoke to us for another International Women's Day piece about her role, her team, and the state of women's football. While men are seen as assertive and women as 'bossy' for displaying the same traits - what is your leadership style and who has influenced that style for you? I would say I like to use a holistic, collaborative approach when it comes to leadership. I studied Entertainment Management at university and one thing that resonated with me is a time when our course lead was discussing the difference between being a manager and a leader. Ever since that class, I have always tried to implement what that means into all aspects of my life. Speaking on Ashlea's leadership style, player Scout said: " A great advocate for us as a team - communicating and giving feedback on our behalf to make the league as safe and fun as possible, which I’m sure has been quite stressful at times. Also very collaborative, anyone can get involved in the team sheet or suggest tactics." Head coach L Spence said: " Inclusivity is deffo at the heart. I would say really on the pulse of the women’s football community particularly in terms of the arts and culture side which provides the whole team with creative opportunities where we can express ourselves and unite our differences whilst bonding as a team." while right back and previous coach Franny added "Consistent, reliable and a good role model for us - fun, supportive, caring, competitive in a good way." Newground. Credit: Scout Stuart, Goalclick What has your experience been leading a grassroots women's team after the effects of the Euros and World Cup on the women's game? We have been playing in the AF league in Manchester (Now Inclusive Football Collective) since it was established in 2021. It has been great to see the growth in popularity, I think it started off with around five teams, now there are nine teams in our Wednesday league, two divisions in a Tuesday league and a north league. I think that says it all in terms of growth in women’s and marginalised grassroots football. What made you decide to support a charity as well? It’s been really powerful having the opportunity to link up with Football for Food Banks and host charity games fundraising for local charities such as Emmilene’s pantry. Reflecting on why I do it, for me, I feel it is at my core, this is who I am. I work with CAMHS, amplifying youth voices to create positive change, and I strive to do the same in my community. Although I’m a United fan, I’m not a Manc and moved here five years ago. Football played a huge part in helping me find my place. Manchester’s community spirit is something special, and I love it. I want to do my bit, to give back, and to try to make life a little easier for the people around me. It all comes down to the same thing: bringing people together and making a difference where possible. It’s about solidarity—standing together as a community to support one another beyond the pitch. Newground. Credit: Scout Stuart, Goalclick What highlights and/or challenges have you come across creating an inclusive space for women and non-binary people? One of the biggest challenges in creating an inclusive space for women and non-binary people in football has been ensuring that it always remains a safe, welcoming environment for everyone regardless of ability or experience. Football should be a space where people can find escapism, meet like-minded individuals, and just have a laugh without fear of  judgement or exclusion. For me, one of the trickiest parts has been challenging those who don’t share that same ethos. Sometimes, that means addressing attitudes or behaviours that don’t align with the inclusive culture we’re trying to build. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary to make sure that football stays accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The highlights, though, make it all worth it. Seeing people grow in confidence, build friendships, and feel truly part of a community is what it’s all about. We routinely see poor behaviour from several people in the top flight men's game - we also see sexism towards female players - how responsible can top flight players be for the perception of the game and do women have to work harder? Top-flight players have a huge responsibility when it comes to their actions and the way they shape the perception of the game. Footballers, whether they like it or not, are role models especially to young people and their behaviour sets a tone that filters down into grassroots football. When we see repeated instances of poor behaviour, unchecked aggression, or a lack of accountability in the men’s game, it normalises those attitudes, making it even harder to challenge them at a community level. Newground. Credit: Scout Stuart, Goalclick At the same time, the inequalities in how men and women are treated in football are glaring. Just look at the recent situation with Sam Kerr facing a criminal charge for an off-the-pitch incident, while we’ve seen countless male players accused of far worse who continue to play without consequence. Women in football are not only held to a different standard but also must work harder to gain respect in the first place. This absolutely filters down into grassroots levels. Women and non-binary players often have to fight harder to be taken seriously, to feel safe in football spaces, and to be given the same opportunities. That’s why creating inclusive environments at a community level is so important, we need to challenge these inequalities from the ground up and make sure that football is truly for everyone. The team is filled with incredible, inspiring, and creative individuals, and every week I genuinely look forward to playing, not just for the love of the game, but for the chance to connect with such an amazing group of people. I also wanted to give a shout out to my dad Mark for always supporting me and my sisters to love the beautiful game that is football. It's ingrained in our family, I never had any barriers playing and for that, I have to thank my dad. When I was younger I used to be scared of heading the ball so he used to pay me 50p per header and I still let him know each week how many headers I've done.

MCRJourno A North West charity for adoption and fostering are celebrating LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week on International Women's Day. Blackburn-based children’s charity and voluntary adoption agency, Adoption Matters, and its sister not-for-profit fostering service, Foster Care Matters are throwing their weight behind the campaigning week. In England, there are 83,630 looked-after children with many requiring a foster home as well as 2,710 children waiting for their adoptive home. Karen Palfreyman, Foster Care Matters Fostering Service Manager said: "Sexuality isn’t an important factor when it comes to fostering or adopting, but what is important is that you have the commitment, resilience, stability and love to provide to children." LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week is led by New Family Social, the UK’s peer-support charity for LGBTQ+ adopters, foster carers and special guardians, and the week runs from 3rd March - 9th March with International Women's Day on the eight. Last year one in five adoptions in the country were to same-gender couples although the actual number of adoptions to these couples fell from the previous year. Adoption Matters CEO, Susy White, has emphasised the charities support of the campaign, saying: "We know from experience that people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community come forward to adoption and fostering with a real enthusiasm." It is reported that last year nearly 30% of approved adopters for the charity identified as LGBTQ+. Foster Care Matters will be hosting an online information event on Tuesday 4th March 6:30pm - there will also be an adoption information session hosted by Adoption Matters on International Women's Day, 8th March at 10am. More details can be found at the below links: www.fostercarematters.org.uk/event/fostering-online-information-event/ www.adoptionmatters.org/event/08-march

Rachel Morgan-Trimmer To celebrate International Women's Day on 8th March we're sharing stories of strong, successful, human women - who like all of us, have something to say. Rachel Morgan-Trimmer is a Manchester-based, world-class neurodiversity consultant, TEDx speaker, author and founder of Firebird. Diagnosed later in life with autism at the age of 46, then subsequently with ADHD three years later, Rachel has experienced firsthand the challenges - and most importantly - the joys of navigating life on the spectrum. I picked up my bag, grabbed my jacket, and headed for the door of the office. A male colleague looked up. “Off home already are we?” he asked snidely. “Yes,” I replied. “I’ve finished my work, so I’m going home. It’s 5:30.” He looked unconvinced. But I didn’t see why I should stay any later if I wasn’t getting paid any more. Rachel Morgan-Trimmer This sort of scenario is familiar to so many neurodivergent women. We’re expected to fit into a culture where the rules aren’t written and don’t make sense. We finish our work early because we work fast, and yet are shamed for it. Often, the reward for working well is to be given more work, yet no more responsibility and no more money. Neurodivergent employees of all genders are affected by the challenges of the modern workplace not meeting our needs, but neurodivergent women tend to be more disadvantaged. As well as the issues affecting all women, such as the gender pay gap and being overlooked for promotion, neurodivergent women also tend to have people-pleasing tendencies and avoid confrontation. This means other people’s needs continually get put ahead of their own. So what can we do about it?   How can we empower neurodivergent women, in the workplace and beyond? Neurodivergent women are frequently seen as less capable than their peers. Sometimes called “hysterical” as a result of our emotional dysregulation, or considered less intelligent or even valuable than others. Like anyone else, we are a huge spectrum of people with different talents, skills and qualities, some of which are obvious, some which are less so. For example, we might easily be able to see if someone is a good technician, or a fast writer. It’s less easy to see if someone has a skill of connecting people or being open- minded. And it’s these “soft skills” which neurodivergent women often possess, yet which are undervalued. There are a number of ways of addressing the invisibility of talented neurodivergent women. One is to implement a neurodiverse-inclusive recruitment process We know that what works well for neurodivergent people works well for everyone. In addition, actively recruiting with neurodiversity in mind also reduces other hiring biases, so it’s a great opportunity to address any gender imbalances that might exist. We can also promote and uplift neurodivergent women by focusing on what they bring instead of what they lack. For example, management roles are often focused on managing people, which might not suit an autistic woman. Instead, enabling people to climb a career tree rather than a career ladder means they can move upwards without taking on management responsibilities that don’t suit them. The narrative around neurodiversity still focuses on “managing challenges” That’s great as far as it goes, and neurodivergent women do need to have their challenges understood, as well as managed, to feel safe and supported in the workplace. But what if we were to go beyond that? What if we looked at empowering neurodivergent women so they could thrive at work? Giving them challenging but exciting tasks, offering projects where they could make a real impact. This is how we work towards gender parity, not just by managing challenges but by giving opportunities. And what about outside the workplace? There are many networking events, conferences, social events and other fun activities that are not accessible to neurodivergent women - especially in male-dominated spaces. Having women-focused events to address the gender imbalance is something that is already happening, but what if these events were open to neurodivergent women too? Perhaps with structured networking, quiet rooms or video walkthroughs of the spaces – so everyone could come and access the opportunities that such events provide? There are many ways we can make the world better for neurodivergent women . So that when neurodivergent girls leave school, they can enter a world where people take them seriously, value them and make an effort to understand them. In short, a world where they are welcome. Rachel has worked with many businesses and organisations in Manchester and the surrounding areas to support workplaces in becoming more inclusive and accessible. Her company Firebird is an online consultancy platform that helps companies and organsations become more inclusive to people with disabilities and neurodivergence. She has worked with the likes of BBC, NHS and MoneySupermarket.

MCRJourno Germa Adan Manchester Folk Festival returns this spring with lineups announced. Taking place Thursday 20th March to Saturday 22nd, the festival promises contemporary and traditional folk, roots, and acoustic music in its eight year running. Moving from its regular slot in October the festival will take over some of the city's best-known venues to showcase a variety of artists. Headliners include The Longest Johns, Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings, Cara Dillon, Stornoway, Katherine Priddy and many more. The shows also feature lesser-known rising stars and exclusive artist showcases. RE_VULVA Venues hosting events so far include Band on the Wall, Hallé St Peter’s, Night & Day, The Castle Hotel, Hallé at St Michael’s, The Stoller Hall and New Century Hall. There will also be an international showcase for artists based in or from England taking place, the English Folk Expo - running parallel to the festival it joins 200 music industry delegates with Manchester audiences. Headliners include Bellowhead, frontman Jon Boden will be rallying The Remnant Kings - featuring Bellowhead’s Sam Sweeney, Leveret’s Rob Harbron, Ben Nicholls, Sally Hawkins and M. G. Boulter - in what’s guaranteed to be a standout headline set, supporting their latest album, Parlour Ballads. Cara Dillon will bring her celebrated Coming Home show to life with an extraordinary band led by Sam Lakeman. Born from a collection of personal poems and the remarkable album and book that followed, Cara will skilfully interweave this emotive new material with much-treasured classics. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne The beloved, nature-inspired outfit Stornoway will headline New Century Hall performing choice cuts from 2023’s Dig The Mountain alongside fan favourites. The show will kick off with Amelia Coburn - named one of Drowned In Sound’s ‘15 Must See Acts of 2025’ - leading with her full band. Gig-goers will experience the “rock ‘n’ roll of 1752” as The Longest Johns join the stage, reimagining many of folk’s classic songs while adding their own unique style of songwriting to the melting pot. At The Stoller Hall, Josienne Clarke will present Across The Evening Sky: Josienne Clarke Sings The Songs of Sandy Denny following her highly praised new album, Parenthesis, I. Describing Sandy Denny’s songs as her “north star,” Clarke promises to extract the gold from each track and fashion it anew. Fran & Flora There will also be performances from artists familiar to Tradfolk readers, such as Nick Hart & Tom Moore, The Magpies, Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, Miranda Sykes & Jim Causley, and Eliza Carthy, Sean Cooney and Sam Carter, performing Cooney’s Rochdale-made musical Peter’s Field. The Smithfield Market Tavern will host a series of free music sessions, while Manchester Craft & Design Centre offers hands-on creative workshops. For true folk song enthusiasts, the North Atlantic Song Convention will run a one-day event packed with engaging talks, interactive workshops and plenty of singing. Tickets are available on an individual show basis or as full festival wristbands. For full details on the programme visit Manchester Folk Festival’s website.

MCRJourno Left to Right: Guruleen Kahlo, Princess Arinola Adegbite and Georgia Affonso Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has announced the three young writers in residence, who will be spending time immersing themselves in Elizabeth’s world and responding to her legacy in their words. Georgia Affonso, Princess Arinola Adegbite and Guruleen Kahlo, who are all connected to Manchester through their life, education and creative work, will be exploring Elizabeth Gaskell as a writer and as a woman whose life was led by a sense of social justice. Sally Jastrzebski-Lloyd, Director of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, said: "Elizabeth used her writing to record what she saw and to try and affect change, which makes her much more of an inspiring radical than her image can sometimes convey. "We cannot wait to see how they use their words and voices to illuminate Elizabeth’s legacy as they see it today." Georgia Affonso is a script-writer who has seen her work commissioned by BBC Radio 4, is co-director of No Door Theatre and has been selected for both the BBC Drama Room and as part of the Waterloo Road Shadow Scheme. She arrives at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House with not so positive memories of visiting historical properties as a child and is enthused by the challenge this opportunity presents to test her own preconceptions. Princess Arinola Adegbite is a multi-award-winning poet, filmmaker, musician and writer who has seen her poetry bridge the gap between different cultural spheres that range from Chanel’s Métiers d’art Exhibition to University of Cambridge. She said: "I am intrigued by the possibility of crafting pieces that embody the physical artefacts of the house with themes of female authorship and social reform." Guruleen Kahlo has recently completed an internship for the Long 19th Century Network in which she helped to run a Decolonising the 19th Century event, and she believes that "much of history was written by affluent white men - it is necessary to look further and to amplify a variety of voices." After Elizabeth's death she was described as ‘one of the greatest female novelists of all time’, but never achieved the status of contemporaries such as Charles Dickens - why this was and Elizabeth’s experiences as a female writer is something that the writers will be addressing. Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11am to 4:30pm costing £8.50 for adults and free for children under 16, when accompanied by an adult.

MCRJourno Credit: The Pankhurst Museum The Pankhurst Museum in Manchester is throwing open its doors with free entry to mark International Women’s Day. The special open day will take place on Sunday 9th March from 11am to 4pm giving visitors the opportunity to explore the birthplace of the suffragette movement as the world celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. As an important site of women’s activism, the Pankhurst Museum plays a pivotal role in International Women’s Day. It is here that Emmeline Pankhurst gathered together a group of women and first declared ‘Deeds Not Words’ and over a century later it is the only museum in the UK dedicated to telling the story of Votes for Women. At the heart of the visitor experience is the permanent exhibition 'At Home with the Pankhurst Family' which gives the opportunity to get to know the people behind the iconic Pankhurst name - their lives, influences, tragedies, resourcefulness and the factors that turned them into campaigners. Credit: The Pankhurst Museum How Sylvia used her skills as an artist to create the suffragette’s visual elements, including the use of purple, green and white and the angel of freedom, and Christabel campaigned for recognition of the academic achievements of women after becoming one of the first women to graduate with a law degree from the Victoria University of Manchester. From the hallway, where you can discover how campaigners saved the building from destruction in the 1970s, to the parlour, where the journey to parliament began - visitors can sit just as Emmeline, Christabel, and a small group of their friends did on 10 October 1903, and be inspired by their story. Free tickets for International Women’s Day at the Pankhurst Museum, taking place on Sunday 9 March, can be booked here. Ticket prices are normally £5 in advance and £6 on the door (free for under 16s) and the museum welcomes donations which help to support the work of the Pankhurst Trust.

MCRJourno Hospitality venues across Manchester have raised over £30,000 for north-west based charity Prevent Breast Cancer through the first ever Hospitality Helps partnership organised by The Tim Bacon Foundation. The year-long fundraising initiative saw bars and restaurants raise money for the construction of a new National Breast Imaging Academy based in Manchester. Jessica Ruth, head of income generation at Prevent Breast Cancer, said: "We are incredibly grateful to the venues which took part in the first Hospitality Helps initiative, the Tim Bacon Foundation and everyone who bought a cocktail, donated money or sponsored charity fundraisers." This new building will train around 50 new breast imaging specialists every year and provide 13,000 more screening appointments in Manchester annually - with the site expected to be completed this autumn. Among the venues supporting the campaign were - Night Cap plc (owners of Dirty Martini, Blame Gloria, The Cocktail Club and Tonight Josephine) - which offered three fundraising cocktails across all its sites nationwide during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and San Carlo which offered a pink cocktail across all its sites during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Alchemist also took part where customers could donate a discretionary £1 on their bill, as well as Gusto who ran a ladies night at its Alderley Edge restaurant raising £5,000. Staff at Tattu and Fenix climbed the Three Peaks raising over £10,000 for the cause. Jeremy Roberts, chairman at The Tim Bacon Foundation added: "This has been a challenging year for the sector yet we have still seen so many venues join together to support us, helping raise money for this important charity and, importantly, showing their customers that they truly care about worthy causes."

MCRJourno Grace Lee - City of Trees, Paul Dennett - Salford City Mayor, Susan Halsall - Salford City Academy Over 600 trees have been planted as a Salford school creates a new woodland to combat climate breakdown. The Community Forest for Greater Manchester - City of Trees has been working with Salford City Academy in Eccles to educate young people on the importance of nature preservation. City Mayor Paul Dennett said responding to climate change was a key priority for Salford, adding: "We’re investing in the city’s vital green spaces to support biodiversity. "Our pledge to plant 8,000 new trees in Salford by 2028 is picking up pace, with 1,654 trees planted so far." 602 whips were planted as part of a programme of work over a seven-week period. As well as learning how to plant trees, the pupils were educated on topics such as woodland design and proper tool handling. In addition to the woodland creation, five fruit trees and 16 standard trees have been planted by the City of Trees in-house contract team. The 16 semi mature standard trees have been funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs' Northern Forest programme. Grace Lee, Standards Officer at City of Trees, said: "Greening school grounds is an important part of our work, trees improve student’s health and wellbeing, create habitats for wildlife and help to combat climate change."

MCRJourno The John Rylands Library, Manchester Festival of Libraries will be taking place across 133 libraries in Greater Manchester from Wednesday 4th June to Sunday 8th June this year. Among many celebrated authors at the festival is Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock - the first Black woman to win a gold medal in the Physics News Award, a CBeebies presenter, and honouree of her own Barbie Doll in recognition of her work to promote science careers to girls. Also in the line-up - Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, an award-winning author and screenwriter who will headline a series of Inspired by Libraries talks. They will be joined by a host of authors, poets, performers, artists and historians all sharing their love of libraries with audiences in a free events programme. Eccles Library. Credit: Samantha Guess Photography Previous speakers have included Christopher Eccleston, Maxine Peake, Simon Armitage, Radzi Chinyanganya, Guy Garvey, Cheddar Gorgeous, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Stuart Maconie, Michael Rosen and Gary Younge. Returning for its fifth year after winningBest Event at the Manchester Culture Awards in 2024 - Festival of Libraries is the biggest festival of its type in the country. It is organised by Manchester UNESCO City of Literature and supported by Arts Council England. The full events programme will be unveiled in early April with last year's attracting 44,000 visitors across 115 events. The Portico Library, Manchester. Credit: Samantha Guess Photography Festival of Libraries’ partners include: Archives+, Central Library, Chetham’s Library, John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester Poetry Library, NHS Libraries, The Portico Library, Working Class Movement Library, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Institute Cervantes Library, Levenshulme Old Library and ten Greater Manchester libraries. For further information visit: https://www.manchestercityofliterature.com/project/manchester-libraries-festival/

MCRJourno Vegetarian for Life’s 'Roving Chef' has completed over 200 community cookery classes across Manchester and beyond to spread vegetarian cooking. Alex Connell has worked with everyone from trainee chefs to older adults living alone and people living with dementia. Alex said: "Being a Roving Chef has allowed me to visit hundreds of venues and meet people I may not have had the pleasure to cook for as a 'standard' chef. "Speaking to organisers, agreeing on recipes, fixing the date, and travelling to community halls is just the start of the fun." His work with charities such as Manchester Cares helped to unite older and younger generations as community-building experiences. Alex Connell Credit: Vegetarian for Life He has worked with groups like Age UK in order to combat loneliness among older adults. From stories about army cooks to memories of first-time curry experiences, Alex hopes his sessions are a place for personal reflections and laughter while quality food is prepared. Beyond teaching practical cooking skills Alex believes in the importance of sharing memories over food, as well as social engagement and enjoying a shared dish - from army chefs to commis chefs. Alex intends to continue his classes and says that any group that supports those over 50 years old can request a demonstration.

MCRJourno Melanie Lane - MOUNTAIN. Credit: Jordan Munns Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall premieres Refractions - a live performance where "electronica, classical music and contemporary dance intertwine." The world premiere performance from electronic artist Clark, contemporary classical ensemble Manchester Collective and choreographer Melanie Lane comes to the Manchester venue on Friday 25th April. Conceived as one continuous musical experience by creative director and violinist Rakhi Singh, the show will draw on the vast spectrum of Clark’s music. Rakhi Singh said: "Refractions explores ideas around the rupturing of time and our chronological experience of it - turning what we think is normal on its head and making space for new things to emerge." The show allows for a variety of musical expressions from hard-hitting techno and world-building ambient tracks to classical compositions for strings and piano. Manchester Collective - WEATHER at Southank Centre, London. Credit: Mark Allan Refractions will take audiences on an auditory and visual journey spanning music from the last 1,000 years. Featuring choreography by Melanie Lane for a trio of dancers, the show will offer a fresh perspective as three contrasting parts will mirror the ever-evolving dynamic of any relationship, human or musical. The movements mimicked will be the initial discovery of joy and excitement to disintegration and destruction, before waking up in a new world of celebration and ecstasy. Melanie Lane said: "The relationship between music and dance continues to evolve as both artforms respond to the world around us. "The choreography I create often speaks with dynamic, visceral movement which is an expression of the human condition - chaos and harmony, light and dark, speed and stillness; these counterpoints are often at the heart of my creations." Tickets can be purchased at manchestercollective.co.uk/refractions

MCRJourno A National Lottery grant of over £360,000 has saved a Manchester charity which supports people living with dementia and carers from potential closure. Together Dementia Support, whose staff and volunteers support 1,000 people a year has been awarded £366,827 by the National Lottery Community Fund. Over a three-year period the funding will enable it to continue running and the expand its services. Chief executive Sally Ferris said: "The need for our services is greater than ever and is only going to increase. Diagnosis rates are going up, and more and more families are struggling to cope with the impact of dementia on their lives. "With our future more secure we can develop new work, help sustain a better quality of life for more people living with dementia and their carers, and amplify their voices." The charity, which is based at the Kath Locke Centre in Moss Side runs weekly social activities such as games, park walks, music, baking, choir practice, day trips, and a befriending service. It also offers free training plus advice, advocacy and micro-respite opportunities such as dementia cafés and other events for family carers. Sally set up the charity as a small organisation of volunteers after working in the NHS and adult social care for more than 15 years. One service user who cares for her mum said without the charity "we’d be in a world of pain. We deal with real humans who empathise, they know what you’re going through and genuinely care. We’d be lost without them." Together Dementia Support currently receives 300 new referrals each year with demand rising.