Marking International Women's Day in resort

The day was sponsored by Blackpool And The Fylde College and showcased 57 stalls – from local independent businesses such as Kids Be Happy and Bijoux crochet crafts, to larger organisations such as the Imperial Hotel.

Anne Nolan, Fylde Coast IWD ambassador, opened the event with a speech addressing this year’s theme, the #PledgeForParity campaign – asking all genders to come together to support an equal environment for everyone. Helen Kershaw Russell compered, with entertainment from Skool of Street, Blackpool Community Football Trust and local band Tongue of Fire.

URPotential has organised the IWD event for the last six years, with support from the Fylde Coast International Women’s Day committee, Soroptimists and Blackpool Rotary Ladies.

The bags and Bras for Hope project donated 30 bags to Fylde Coast Women’s Aid – supporting women with toiletries and essentials vital for homeless women. In partnership with the Lingerie Lounge, women were also asked to donate old bras for cancer research and to recycle for women in the developing countries. A hundred bras were donated.

Fylde Coast women were recognised for their contribution to their communities, with winners in the Woman Of The Year Awards, sponsored by Santander, revealed: Faye Ellie Rose, LGB&T ambassador was named Young Woman Of The Year and Woman of the Year went to Fleetwood PCSO Linda Stakehouse.

Deborah Terras, director of URPotential, said: “The event brought together people from all genders and communities. The nominations for the Fylde Coast Woman of the Year awards were outstanding and make you very proud to be part of the Fylde Coast community.”