Capturing the momentum from Bolton 2025

On Saturday 12th July 2025, our GM4Women2028 community came together in Bolton for our annual Dialogue, Deeds & Determination event – and what a day it was.

Illustrative graphic of the event

The vibrant graphic above, created live on the day by illustrator Jenny Parkington at Scratchy Hen Design, beautifully captures the spirit, energy and action that defined our seventh annual gathering. Packed with bold insights, rallying cries and reflections from participants, the image is more than a record – it’s a snapshot of a movement in motion.

Summary of the day

Throughout the day, women, girls and male allies came together from across Greater Manchester to do what we do best: speak truth, listen with purpose and commit to meaningful change. Together, we explored five core areas where equality is still urgently needed – education, safety, employment, participation, and culture and active lives — the pillars of our Pankhurst-Fawcett Scorecard and focus of our campaign towards 2028.

The bold phrases lifted from conversations – “doing nothing is not an option”, “we must do better”, and “more women leaders” – remind us of the urgency and focus in the room. The event created space not only for dialogue, but for people to share how they’re already translating talk into deeds: supporting survivors, working across sectors and pushing for systems that protect women and girls.

It was also a space where new voices joined long-standing members of the movement. Our format, deliberately open and inclusive, allowed for intergenerational exchange, community connections and personal commitments to action. The message was clear: this is not a top-down movement – it's a network of networks, powered by everyone who shows up.

We left Bolton energised and encouraged, with a renewed sense of purpose. Jenny Parkington’s illustration reminds us of what’s possible when we gather with intention and imagination – and it serves as an anchor as we look forward.