At LK Bennett, we strive to work with women focused charities, to support the wider communities. This year we are donating 10% of sales taken on 8th of March to Women for Women International and The Prince’s Trust.

LK Bennett has proudly worked with Women for Women International since 2015, and this International Women’s Day is no different.

Women for Women International is an organisation that invests in women survivors of war and conflict and – alongside a dedicated global community – supports them in rebuilding their lives.

The money they raise helps women connect and form support networks, equip them with marketable job skills, and gain knowledge and resources to care for their families, and defend their rights.

We spoke with their Managing Director, Sara Bowcutt, to find out more about their campaign for International Women’s Day 2022.

One thing I know for sure is that women have the power to change the world. Women for Women International helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives, by enrolling them on a year-long training programme where they learn important job skills, about savings, their health, rights and gain a vital support network of other women. In the face of inequality and conflict, marginalised women in our programmes rise up and take control of their lives. They gain the skills and access resources they need to make small, positive changes which in time have a lasting effect on their families, on their communities and on society as a whole.

On International Women’s Day 2022, we want to focus on the subversive power of women as a force for positive change, champion the changemakers and encourage everyone to harness their #PowerToChange.

Gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society through ingrained harmful social norms, unequal societal structures and power imbalances which create barriers to achieving equality.

This means that women lack access to decent work and are left to carry the burden of household care, which is often unpaid. They are denied access to basic education, health care and other services. They are under-represented in political and economic decision-making processes. Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination. This is particularly exacerbated in conflict and crisis settings, like the ones in which Women for Women International works.

This International Women’s Day, we are extending our efforts to work with The Prince’s trust by donating towards the incredible work they do with young women.

The Prince’s Trust works with disadvantaged young women to overcome challenges through aiding them to gain skills and confidence to move into work, training and education.

We spoke with Farhana Ibraham, who set up Binta’s Kitchen during the pandemic with the help of the Prince’s Trust.

The Prince’s Trust enterprise programme helped me to realise my dream with Binta’s Kitchen. The Prince’s Trust helped me plan and build my business, from my marketing plan to defining my target customer base.

Binta's Kitchen is a London based, female founded and black owned brand committed to sharing wellness and putting northern Nigerian foods on the map. Through recipes we share wellness and are committed to teaching children about healthy eating choices and ending child food poverty.

International Women's day was created to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and also to mark and promote the acceleration for gender parity - but I think we should also celebrate it because women are awesome!