Women gather to break fasts and taboos

A group of woman including a chief constable, a Methodist minister and a former prisoner are coming together at a football stadium to share stories of strength at home, in their communities and in society.

Resilient Women, an event combining the Muslim festival of Eid and International Women's Day, will take place at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on Monday.

Guest speakers aim to provide inspiration and tackle some subjects which can be taboo among some communities.

Subjects covered at the event, organised by Sahida Ditta, will include disability, mental health and combining careers with motherhood.

Ditta said creating a safe and welcoming space, where woman from different backgrounds could "support one another and feel a real sense of belonging", was important.

"By bringing together women who might not normally meet, we hope to build understanding, strengthen relationships and celebrate the richness of our community," she said.

Combining Eid and International Women's Day could, according to the organiser, provide a space where Muslim women felt culturally recognised while also celebrating women from all backgrounds "who may feel overlooked or unheard".

The event is part of the Amal Project Teesside, a community organisation focused on improving access to essential services for people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Menopause and weight-loss coach Samina Zaman, from Middlesbrough, will be among the guest speakers.

The 45-year-old said she was celebrating her first Eid after being given the all clear from breast cancer in January and would talk about the importance of early detection and breaking cultural stigma.

The mother of three also said she had experienced premenopausal symptoms and wanted to use the event to speak openly about it.

She said menopause and breast cancer were "taboo subjects" and some women felt they should not talk about them through embarrassment, but added: "We need to just be able to openly speak about these things."

Attendee Maureen Rigg, 80 and from Eaglescliffe, said: "We need women to be leaders in our community, and the event would encourage women to lead and to develop their self-confidence.

As a Christian, the retired English teacher said she had fasted for Lent but also abstained from food and water for one day in Ramadan.

"It gave me a much better appreciation of the women that I'd known for years," she said.

Rigg said the event would allow her to share her experiences as well as to learn from others.

Other speakers include Sahida Ditta herself, who will talk about learning to walk again after an injury.

The Reverend Charity Hamilton is also among those discussing health issues, while another speaker will detail barriers to mental health support across different ethnic communities.

A former prisoner will recount turning her life around and Chief Constable Victoria Fuller, from Cleveland Police, will talk about her career and being a mum.

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