To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, Lucy Allan MP is celebrating the contributions made by inspirational women across Telford during the pandemic.
Women carers, teachers, healthcare workers, shop workers and many more have played a vital part in our national effort during this crisis. At the same time, many have juggled home schooling, childcare, care for elderly loved ones, not to mention often bearing a larger share of domestic responsibilities.
One such inspiring woman is Little Dawley resident, Kate Barnes. Kate is Assistant Headteacher in charge of English at Madeley Academy. She is passionate about her community and as a Dawley Hamlets parish councillor she works hard to ensure residents get the local services they need. She has campaigned on many local issues including road safety, anti-social behaviour and promoting and saving green spaces. She volunteers for the Friends of Dawley Hamlets Local Nature Reserve, helps with her daughter’s school PTA ; she is also vice-chair of governors at Aqueduct Primary school.
Throughout the pandemic Kate has adapted her community work to support residents, helping with prescription collections, keeping in contact with the vulnerable and, most importantly, keeping spirits high with local initiatives such as remote events and challenges in the Local Nature Reserve, a community library and creating a popular residents group on Facebook to keep the community connected.
Without the help of women front line workers and community champions like Kate, fighting coronavirus would not have been possible. Women across Telford have done incredible work in the most challenging of times. Huge sacrifices have been made, as many women have juggled working from home with childcare and caring for loved ones, and many have faced uncertainty over their jobs and worried about the future for the next generation.
The Prime Minister is committed to ensuring that women can succeed in every walk of life, and that women feel empowered to reach their full potential - be that in the workplace, in business or building a life and legacy they are proud of.
Lucy Allan MP said:
“This International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to thank inspiring women across our community, who have played an incredibly important part in the response to Covid-19.”
“Many women have been dealing with the extra burdens that the pandemic has created, whether it has been working from home or on the front line, keeping the family going and at the same time making contributing to their community by supporting others. They deserve our recognition and thanks."
“Local champions like Kate Barnes are a great example of the best of our community and an inspiration to others at a time of crisis. I am delighted to hear Kate has decided to stand to be a Borough Councillor in May, to represent Dawley & Aqueduct ward. We need to open up our local politics to include more women like Kate. I wish her every success, she will make a brilliant local representative and bring a fresh voice and fresh ideas to our Council and its decision making. Kate thank you for all you do.”
Photo above: Lucy Allan MP with Little Dawley resident and community champion, Kate Barnes
