Over 100 people came together for Dialogue, Deeds & Determination in Rochdale

More than 100 attendees gathered at Rochdale Library on Saturday 4th July 2026 for our annual Dialogue, Deeds & Determination event, bringing together Greater Manchester’s people for a day of discussion, collaboration and action.

Our flagship event allowed attendees to examine progress towards gender equality and explore the challenges that remain within our five thematic areas: safety, participation, education, employment, and culture and active lives.

The day welcomed a range of distinguished guests and speakers, including Councillor Faisal Rana, Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Iram Faisal, Mayoress of Rochdale, Hannah Spencer MP, Green Party politician, Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Councillor Bev Craig OBE, Labour politician, and councillors from Greater Manchester's ten boroughs.

Highlights from the programme included:

• A powerful plenary discussion about honour-based abuse in Greater Manchester, comprising speakers from WHAG (Women's Housing Action Group), Bollyfit Active CIC, Rochdale Women's Welfare Association and Soul Sisters.

• A session examining the power of movements and communities, with contributions from Rose Marley, Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK, and Deborah Walker, Director of Manchester Building Society, exploring the role organisations can play in creating positive change.

• Interactive workshops focused on pathways to participation in politics, honour-based abuse and the value of women's data, giving attendees the chance to share experiences, identify priorities and contribute suggestions for future action.

• Creative performances from Dr Mary Adekigbe of the Nigeria Community Association, Nessa Ndang of Afrocats and Carol Ann Whitehead of 50:50 Parliament, helping to bring lived experience, culture and storytelling into the heart of the day's discussions.

• Reflections from community leaders, elected representatives and campaigners on how dialogue can be translated into meaningful action as we enter the final years of our campaign towards 2028.

Our convenor Helen Pankhurst CBE said:

"Dialogue, Deeds & Determination is about bringing people together to listen, learn and act. The energy in Rochdale was inspiring, with people from different sectors, communities and backgrounds focusing on practical solutions to the challenges facing women and girls in our region. Events like this remind us that progress happens when people work collectively and remain committed to driving change."

The event also featured community organisations from across Greater Manchester, providing opportunities for networking, partnership building and knowledge sharing throughout the day.

Feedback from attendees highlighted the impact of the day, with participants describing the event as “inspiring, encouraging, a privilege and a real learning experience”. Others praised the nature of the discussions, stating the event was “informative and collaborative” and “a fantastic opportunity to connect”. Attendees valued the chance to discover more about the organisations and initiatives working across Greater Manchester, with one participant highlighting how useful it was to see “what other groups are out there supporting the community”.

As we continue our work towards the centenary of the Equal Franchise Act in 2028, the discussions in Rochdale reinforced both the progress that has been made and the importance of maintaining momentum in the years ahead.

Next events

Our events programme continues with:

• Data, Deeds & Determination – Friday 5th February 2027 (online), presenting the latest findings from the Pankhurst-Fawcett Scorecards.

• Dialogue, Deeds & Determination – Saturday 3rd July 2027 in Bury (venue to be confirmed).

For more information about us and our upcoming events, email info@gm4women2028.org.