Reading & Libraries
Rebecca Bradley - Bingham Library
Join Rebecca Bradley series as she talks about her books, writing and previous life in the police.
Inspire celebrates IWD2025 with a look back at inspirational women involved in projects and events across the organisation, plus some upcoming events you won't want to miss.
At Inspire, we strive to champion women in all that we do; in our events programming, in our partner work with artists, and in our role as an employer. Take a look below to find out more about our recent projects, inspiring women in our catalogue at Nottinghamshire Archives and upcoming female-led heritage events.
Women and Reading
Our I Am a Reader project took place in Spring and Summer 2022 and involved six groups of adult readers working with six acclaimed authors to talk about their personal approaches to reading and commission a brand new story, created by the writer for, and with input from, the group.
Three of the groups involved specific audiences, including neurodiverse readers and readers from Broxtowe Women's Project, with female authors Eve Makis and Clare Harvey.
Come and see some of the brilliant and inspiring work created by both professional writers and members of the community at our I Am A Creator project exhibition this Spring at Worksop Library between Tuesday 4 March - Sunday 20 April.
Inspired by some of the fascinating insights we uncovered as part of the I Am A Reader project, I Am A Creator aims to bring audiences - who may not always recognise themselves as creative – together with professional writers and artists as they co-create exciting new work across a range of mediums.
Celebrating inspirational women over the years
Visit our Inspire Picture Archive and browse the catalogue of inspirational women over the years. One of the images in our collection is of a Land Army girl on a farm in Collingham, c. 1944.
The Women’s Land Army (WLA) was founded in 1917 by the Board of Agriculture to help farmers cope with the shortage of male labour that resulted from the First World War, by recruiting women to work the land. Its members were affectionately known as the Land Girls.
Before the Second World War, Britain imported much of its food. When war broke out, it was necessary to grow more food at home and increase the amount of land in cultivation. With many male agricultural workers joining the armed forces, women were needed to provide a new rural workforce.
The WLA had originally been set up in 1917 but disbanded at the end of the First World War and reformed in June 1939. Women were initially asked to volunteer to serve in the Land Army and, from December 1941, could also be conscripted into land work.
Did you know?
- At its peak in 1944, there were more than 80,000 women in the WLA.
- Land girls did a wide variety of jobs on the land. They worked in all weathers and conditions and could be directed to work anywhere in the country.
Share your story
Why not join us to tell the story of Nottinghamshire by sharing your images, new or old, and be party of history! It's free and easy to do, you can upload your images now by visiting Inspire Picture Archive.
Celebrate women creatives in our upcoming events
Reading & Libraries
Sarah Ward - Hucknall Library
Join Sarah Ward as she talks about her new crime novel Death Rites. a new series featuring an Archaeology professor, set in New England. Sarah will also talk about ritual house protection and witch bottles which appear in Death Rites.
Heritage
Heritage Talk: Ladies, Lace & Lawbreakers - West Bridgford
Community Historian Mo Cooper will take you on a virtual tour of the streets of Nottingham’s Lace Market, looking at the women who lived and worked there – grand ladies, lace workers, and those who were transported for their ‘crimes’.
Heritage
Rufford Abbey - History and Archaeology with Emily Gillott
Take a journey through a thousand years of history at Rufford Abbey - from humble monastic origins to a grand country estate. Learn how the place has changed over the years and about some of the fascinating characters who lived there.
Heritage
Heritage Talk: Nottinghamshire Gallows and Gibbets with Emily Gillott
Join Planning Archaeologist Emily Gillott for a fascinating look at the history of the gallows and capital crimes with a focus on Nottinghamshire.
Arts & Culture
I Am A Creator: I Am A Writer Exhibition - Worksop Library
Come and see some of the brilliant and inspiring work created by both professional writers and members of the community from our I Am A Creator: I Am A Writer project.
Adult Learning
Inspiring Nottinghamshire Women: Exploring Women's History - West Bridgford Library - Adult Learning
Interested in women’s history? Come and explore how women are represented in history in this short course where you will look at two Nottinghamshire women, explore the barriers to women’s contributions to history, reflect on and share the story of a woman who has inspired you.
