31 March 2025
March marks Women’s History Month, with International Women’s Day falling on the 8th of the month. The theme for International Women’s Day this year has been ‘Accelerate Action’, and as March draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what learnings and actions WithYou will carry forward into the rest of the year.
Throughout the month, WithYou has used our social and internal communications channels to highlight the specific barriers women continue to face in accessing drug and alcohol treatment. As part of this, we’ve amplified the voices of women from our Cornwall Women’s Group, the Fabulous Flamingoes, shared information about the impact of alcohol on menopause, and shed light on the fears we know many women will still have when engaging with drug and alcohol services. This month hasn’t just been a time for reflection - it’s a call to action. We remain committed to spotlighting the specific experiences of women in treatment, throughout this year and the next, and being part of the ongoing conversation to reduce the stigma that so often surrounds them.
Being part of these conversations also means working together to find solutions. As part of the Collective Voice Women’s Treatment Working Group, WithYou has been collaborating with other providers across the sector to share best practices for working with women in drug and alcohol treatment services. On 14th March, the group hosted a webinar focusing on harm reduction and accessibility, drawing from online services and stories from women who have accessed treatment. The energy in the virtual room was clear - people care. There were many passionate individuals across the sector all wanting to see change, and all ready to continue moving the dial on all women being able to access the information and support they need.
Spaces like this, where organisations and individuals can come together, are powerful. They show us what’s working, what’s not, and where we can push harder to create better support for women. Identifying where changes and improvements are still needed is a really important reminder that structural change around gender inequality can only happen when we work together.
But as always, the work doesn’t stop there. Accelerating action means continuing to listen - truly listen - to the experiences of women who have both engaged and have not engaged with services. It means continuing to reduce the systemic barriers to women accessing drug and alcohol support, providing platforms where women can meaningfully share their stories in a safe space that empowers them. It means continuing to change and adapt the way we deliver services to better meet the specific needs of women. It means actively challenging bias and stigma that is aimed at women accessing drug and alcohol support.
It means standing together, taking responsibility and committing to lasting change.
Written by Kate Ashfield-Fox, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
