Putting women front and centre

International Women’s Day (IWD) 2023 is as much about celebrating inspirational women across the globe as it is about highlighting where the gender, equity and equality gaps still exist. This year, #EmbraceEquity is at the forefront of the day, with the UN calling for equality in innovation and technology under the banner DigitALL: innovation and technology for gender equality.

To mark IWD Ambassadeurs Group (AG) is making donations to four charities with a strong female focus, and a clear link back to the core philanthropy pillars of the Group. Those pillars are: Education, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Our Community, and Safer Gambling. The four charities that will benefit from donations are Smart Works, Bloody Good Period, The Girls’ Network and Betknowmore.

Smart Works aims to give women the confidence they need to reach their full potential, secure employment, and change the course of their life. Bloody Good Period gives period products to those who can’t afford or access them and provide reproductive health education to those less likely to access it. The Girls’ Network aims to inspire and empower girls from the least advantaged communities across the UK by connecting them to a mentor and a network of professional women. Betknowmore helps people take back control of their life from gambling. AG’s donation will specifically help expand a pilot programme called New Beginnings, which delivers structured group support for women who have experienced gambling harms.

According to IWD’s website, equity isn’t just ‘a nice to have, it’s a must-have’. It adds: ‘The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.’

It is with this in mind that the IWD donations have been made by AG; to charities or charitable programmes where the donation will make a meaningful difference to women who really need support. The Group supports the broader levelling up agenda not only by making charitable donations but also by promoting and giving fair opportunities to its own staff – the WorkFamily. Senior women can be found throughout the Group in key leadership roles from gaming, corporate affairs, marketing and human resources.

Last year AG marked Equal Pay Day 2022 Ambassadeurs Group with a £10,000 donation to two charities that put women front and centre. The Girls’ Network promotes women from a young age, ensuring background, gender and parental income are no limit to their potential. The Abbey Centre, based in Westminster, delivers programmes to women in the local community including support groups for carers who are women, wellbeing programmes and an employability programme called Women Off to Work (WOW).

The Group has also supported The Playground Theatre, one of its key alliances, and its play to mark the life of Émilie du Chatelet. Given the UN’s call for equality in innovation and technology under the banner DigitALL in this year’s IWD, it is worth remembering that 274 years ago this natural philosopher and mathematician died at just 42 after making a significant contribution to science. Her crowning achievement is considered to be her translation and commentary on Isaac Newton’s work Principia Mathematica. But she delivered, discovered and contributed so much more to science. Émilie du Chatelet is a good reminder that great women walk among us every day. By supporting and giving opportunities to new generations of women, there is a greater chance of discovering the 21^st Century Émilie du Chatelet.