A Facebook group calling on Islanders to nominate ‘inspiring women’ has grown to over 1,370 members in just a matter of weeks.
The Inspiring Women on the Isle of Wight group was set up in response to two features published by the County Press at the beginning of the year.
The first article had asked nine well-known Islanders what they wanted for 2016. It featured the views of eight men and one woman. The second article, in the property pages, featured only male estate agents, ignoring the many female estate agents operating on the Island.
Hundreds of nominations
The Facebook group, set up by Donna Jones and Caroline Diamond, very quickly gathered pace and in no time at all, had received hundreds of nominations for inspiring women on the Isle of Wight.
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Unlike the Venus Awards, which recognises women in business, the Inspiring Women Group has seen a broad range of women from across the community being nominated. From carers to teachers, therapists to artists. The diversity of those nominated is testament to the rich community on the Isle of Wight.
Join others next week
Forty of those women got together last Saturday to have their photo taken on Ryde beach to help promote the Group.
Many more plan to attend the first official offline meeting of the Group at the Blacksheep Bar on 3rd February at 7pm.
We caught up with Donna Jones (pictured) at the end of the photo shoot, who explained why the group was set up, what they hope to achieve with it and what happens next.
The interview is just over ten minutes long. Click on the play button below to have a listen.
