Government announces details of £2.5 million to celebrate centenary of suffrage
Minister for Women and Equalities Amber Rudd announces details of a £2.5 million investment to celebrate 100 years of women having the right to vote.
Amber Rudd today (6 February) opened a £1.5 million Women’s Suffrage Centenary Grant Scheme for bids of up to £125,000 for projects running throughout the centenary year to encourage communities to celebrate and to help make modern politics more accessible.
Ms Rudd revealed how a further £1 million will be invested to mark the important democratic milestone, including a scheme to inspire a new generation of young women by matching them with leaders in their communities.
Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Amber Rudd said:
100 years ago, an army of brave women made enormous sacrifices to pave the way for the equal rights we enjoy in this country today.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp projects funded by this £2.5 million fund will honour their legacy by opening up modern politics to more people and ensuring we remember this landmark moment in our proud democratic history.
Over £1 million of the Centenary Grant Scheme will be available for at least 30 large-scale schemes to increase young people’s engagement with democracy and to encourage more women to take part in public life.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp rest of the fund will be made up of smaller grants of up to £2000 for local events to celebrate and remember those who campaigned for change.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp first of these events is being held this week to mark the 6 February 100-year anniversary of the act of Parliament that first gave some women the vote. Over £60,000 has already been awarded to 35 local projects, including a tea party in Liverpool to bring schoolchildren and older people together to celebrate women’s suffrage.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Home Secretary announced that the additional £1 million funding will help fund a number of initiatives, including:
- a year-long pilot matching 650 young women with female community leaders � such as politicians or businesswomen � to help develop their leadership potential
- the closing ceremony for the 3-month long festival of »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Great Exhibition of the North, which will commemorate the centenary and encourage more women to participate in politics
- a public procession where female MPs walk from Parliament to an ‘ask her to stand� event to encourage more women to sign up as candidates
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp government will also help fund a public art march through the streets of the 4 capital cities, with people dressed in violet, green and white to look like a moving suffragette flag.
A new will help people find out more about getting involved in centenary events through the year. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp page includes links to information about the history of the suffrage movement and details of how to apply for a grant, as well as an events hub to show what is happening across the country.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp grant scheme and £1 million investment are part of a £5 million centenary fund created by the government to celebrate the centenary and to open up public life to more people.
£1.2 million has been awarded to 7 ‘Centenary Cities� and towns in England with a strong suffrage history to help inspire a new generation with the legacy of women’s campaign for equal representation.
A statue of leading suffragist Millicent Fawcett, who helped win the vote for women, will be unveiled in Parliament Square later this year.