Intergenerational Action, Research, and Gender Equity
On Monday, March 9th, 2026, Diversity House hosted its flagship International Women’s Day (IWD) forum at Hempstead House. This landmark event seamlessly integrated high-level civic advocacy with primary community research, celebrating the 19th Anniversary of Diversity House while charting the future of gender equity in the region.
Attended by a diverse, intergenerational, and gender-inclusive audience, the forum served as a strategic platform for knowledge exchange and data-driven consultation, ensuring that the voices of our community directly inform national policy and future research initiatives.
Strategic Objectives & Civic Leadership
The program was opened by Dr. Christine Locke (Founder & CEO of Diversity House) and curated to provide a multifaceted view of empowerment through a distinguished roster of speakers:
- Civic Recognition: We were honored by the presence of Mrs. Victoria Wallace DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Kent (representing The Lady Colgrain, Lord Lieutenant of Kent), and Cllr Karen Watson, The Mayor of Swale. Their participation underscored the regional and national significance of our mission.
- Philanthropic & Leadership Insight: Josephine McCartney (CEO of The Childhood Trust) delivered a keynote on “Give to Gain – Building Empowered & Inclusive Communities,” followed by Cllr Mary Lawes (Deputy Cabinet Member for Communities) on the “Leadership Mindset.”
- Academic Depth: Dr. Anke Franz (Head of Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University) explored the psychological pillars of “Confidence, Leadership, and Finding Your Voice,” bridging the gap between academic theory and practical empowerment.
- Funding & Sustainability: Jane Haddock (Funding Manager, The National Lottery Community Fund) provided vital perspectives on sustaining community-led impact.
Knowledge Dissemination: The CWGIE Report
A pivotal moment of the day was the formal Dissemination of the CWGIE (Centre for Women &Girls: Innovation & Empowerment) End-of-Project Report. This session shared critical impact stories and data-driven findings regarding the successes and structural challenges identified during the project. The dissemination was accompanied by the launch of the CWGIE Story Book, ensuring the project’s intellectual legacy is shared widely across the UK.
Research in Action: Consultative Workshops
To ensure the event served as a data-collection hub, three concurrent Strategic Research Workshops were conducted to identify current “knowledge gaps”:
- Workshop A: Mentorship as a Catalyst for Growth – Investigating how the transfer of knowledge boosts confidence and professional opportunity.
- Workshop B: Allyship in Action – A deep dive into active allyship, addressing unconscious bias, and supporting gender equality.
- Workshop C: Social Entrepreneurship – A practical session on idea generation, problem-solving, and pitching for sustainable futures.
Youth Engagement: ‘Voices of the Future’
In a standout segment, we engaged students from two local schools in the ‘Voices of the Future’ interactive dialogue. This consultative exercise captured the perspectives of school girls and boys on gender equality, ensuring their insights are integrated into Diversity House’s 2026-2027 research agenda and policy advocacy.
Peer Recognition & Feedback
The success of IWD 2026 is reflected in the testimonials from our distinguished academic and professional guests:
“I just wanted to say thank you so much for inviting me along to the International Women’s Day event on Monday (my third one spent with you). It was great to hear from so many empowered and inspirational women at the event and be there to celebrate with you the 19th Birthday of Diversity House and hear more about the amazing work you are doing to support the people of Swale and beyond”
(Jane Haddock, Funding Manager-Regional Team Southern (Kent & Sussex)
“Congratulations on hosting such a wonderful event yesterday. It was truly inspiring to see such a fantastic turnout and the positive energy. Please share Diversity House’s bank details so that Tecnis Academy can make a small donation as a token of our support”
(Tutu, Tecnis Academy)
“It was special to spend yesterday with you, all together in community, at Hempstead House. Thank you for a wonderful celebration yesterday & for inviting me to share your joy in the marking the last 19 years – very many congratulations!”
(Jay)
“ Dr Christine Locke and Dr Zina Lehef, thank you for the invitation to attend such an inspiring and amazing event on the international women’s day. Congratulations to you all (the diversity house team) on your achievements”
(Dr Pat Chung, Occupational Therapy Educator, post-Doctoral researcher, PhD supervisor and external examiner).
“Thank you, Dr Christine Locke, Dr Zina Lehef and Diversity House for a fantastic day of celebrations and networking opportunities. An amazingly supportive atmosphere with truely inspiring people”
(Dr Toni Wright, Reader, School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Social Care)
“I spent an amazing day today with Diversity House celebrating International Women’s Day 2026 and hearing about their fantastic projects helping women who had been invisible find their voice. Amazing work and looking forward to collaborations with Canterbury Christ Church University”
(Prof. David Stephensen, Applied Clinical Research, Canterbury Christ Church University)
“What an amazing IWD 26 event Diversity House organised on Monday. The event was so inspiring, interesting and professional organised. It was wonderful to see so many women sharing their amazing journeys ”
(Jacqueline Hunt, Community Partnerships Lead)
“Wow Team Diversity House you all did amazingly yesterday and put on another super IWD event on. Thank you so much for inviting me and I look forward to IWD27 and your 20th year celebrations. I hope you can have a well-deserved rest today”
(Claire Friend, Universal Banker)
“Wonderful event thank you for your invitation and hospitality”
(Mirelle Frost, CEO of Sunlight Centre Gillingham)
I had a meaningful day supporting Diversity House for their International Women’s Day 2026. One of my takeaways from the day was this: I own what I have done, and I know who I am. There is strength in standing in that with clarity. Congratulations to Dr Christine Locke, Dr Zina Lehef and the entire team and volunteers”
(Dr Blessing Enakimio, Chartered Change & Culture Consultant)
Conclusion & Future Directions
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Mrs. Rosemary Dymond DL (Patron of Diversity House). The data, podcasts, and feedback captured throughout the day are currently being synthesized into a formal thematic analysis. This evidence will directly inform our upcoming grant-seeking activities and academic inquiries, ensuring Diversity House remains at the forefront of social innovation and empowerment.