To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, we’re sharing stories about inspirational women who work and volunteer in our sector this week.
Meet Cate Hemingway, Co-Chair of Gloucestershire Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) and Head of Sector Innovation here at Gloucestershire VCS Alliance.
“I have been a trustee of various organisations for over 20 years. I also manage the Trustee Bank Programme for Gloucestershire VCS Alliance as part of my day job!
I am currently privileged to be a Co-Chair of GRASAC, a registered charity for all residents of Gloucestershire that provides emotional and practical support to survivors of rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, regardless of sex or gender identity for children, young people and adults".
“I would encourage any, and all, women, regardless of age or life-experience, to consider becoming a trustee”.
“Starting as a women’s cooperative run by volunteers in 1984, we are affiliated and accredited with Rape Crisis England and Wales. We offer a range of services where staff listen, understand, believe and support all survivors, offering an accessible and inclusive service.
Joining the organisation in 2023, this is a continuation on my journey working in this sector, having previously been a volunteer at Oxford Rape Crisis and a criminologist and forensic psychologist specialising in sexual violence.
I work alongside amazing women who bring a range of work and life experiences and it’s of particular importance to me that we are committed to including the voice of those with lived experience in all our decision making and strategic planning. We meet six times a year in the evenings, sometimes remotely, and so it is easy to fit being a trustee around my day job and other commitments. Board meetings are interesting and challenging with robust discussions, where our job is to make the best decisions for the organisation and our service users: they are also good fun and usually accompanied by cake!
I enjoy being a trustee and feeling in my own small way that I am making a difference and trying to build a safe and fair society for us all to thrive. I would encourage any, and all, women, regardless of age or life-experience, to consider becoming a trustee.
Finding an organisation that you are passionate about is key and with an estimated over 3,500 organisations in Gloucestershire there’s one out there for you!”
About International Women's Day (IWD)
IWD is a specific day dedicated to the advancement of women worldwide. It celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.
IWD has a long and powerful history of collective action, with many groups, countries, and bodies having actively contributed to its evolution. Today, IWD is a highly visible worldwide occurrence with significant mainstream awareness, marked by groups worldwide in a wide variety of ways.
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