International Women's Day: Band Of The Welsh Guards To Celebrate Women's Achievements

The Band of the Welsh Guards will be hosting a series of events across the whole of March to celebrate International Women’s Day.

It is part of the Household Division Band’s Diversity and Inclusion Project that has been running since October 2020 on Defence Connect for all of the Household Division to access. 

Since then each band has hosted a different theme. The project comes to end in March to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8:

• Black History Awareness Month (Band of the Irish Guards)
• Men’s Health Month (Countess of Wessex String Orchestra)
• Mental Health Month (Band of the Coldstream Guards)
• LGBTQ+ Awareness Month (Band of the Grenadier Guards)

Colour Sergeant Naomi Phelan, of the Scots Guards, was tasked with the project to raise awareness of diversity and inclusion among the Household Division. Talking to BFBS, the forces station broadcaster Mark McKenzie about celebrating the political, cultural and creative achievements of women during March, CSgt Phelan said:

“We’ve got lots of information out there for the women and men in our units because some of this affects their families.”

Like the previous months, March will have a variety of information for the Household Division to access on Defence Connect to raise awareness. The team of volunteers for each month have created articles, videos, and posters to help share information. 

Lance Corporal Melissa Ramplin from the Band of the Welsh Guards was one of the volunteers for March and shared her reasons for wanting to be a part of the project, saying: 

"In a world where women are striving for change, equality and leadership, why would I not want to be part of the movement to educate and support my fellow peers and colleagues on the journey that we as women are undertaking?"

The information being shared covers a variety of topics including; women's history, the first female Guardsman and Trooper as well as work strategies, like flexible working. 

Another of the volunteers for the Band of the Welsh Guards 'Women's Month', Lance Sergeant Nina Wilcox, talked of the importance of educating and informing. She said:

"Being able to share stories and lessons learnt through generations is how we build a better future."

Some of the events for Women's Month include a live webinar with cancer awareness charity 'Coppafeel', a military breast cancer survivor, and a brand-new book club.

The first book they are encouraging people to read is ‘Becoming’ by former first lady Michelle Obama after it was the top book voted for.

You can now also find BFBS on Defence Connect.