Following Acorn’s recent research into the barriers women face when accessing our services, our residential team began looking at how we could create spaces that better reflect and respond to women’s needs.
International Women’s Day felt like the right time to bring our clients together for something meaningful; something that celebrated women’s experiences while giving them space to connect, reflect, and feel valued.
Rather than planning the day ourselves, we invited women from both Burnley and Stockport to help shape it. We shared this year’s theme and asked what they felt would make the day special and supportive.
Their ideas shaped everything, from the speakers to the activities, ensuring the event felt genuinely relevant to the women who would be attending.
We knew we wanted the morning to offer something a little different. Clients regularly hear from people with lived experience, and while those stories are important, we wanted to bring in strong female role models from outside the recovery world.
Two colleagues, Sarah Swanson and Abigail Birch, kindly offered to share their own personal journeys. They spoke openly about challenges they’ve faced, the barriers they’ve overcome, and the things that helped them keep going.
Their messages touched on themes many women in the room related to: building healthy relationships, recognising positive male role models, learning to trust your own voice, finding purpose, practising selfcare, and discovering the value of giving back. Their honesty set a warm and thoughtful tone for the rest of the day.
The afternoon was hands-on. Women created vision boards, explored positive affirmations, and spent time reflecting on the women, past and present, who have shaped their lives. There were also wellbeing stalls including pampering, nails and hair, tarot readings, and even a sound bath experience. Each activity offered something slightly different, but they all encouraged connection, confidence, and self-expression.
Before leaving, every woman received a gift bag put together with care; small items chosen to reflect empowerment, connection, and self-belief. Approximately 25 women and staff members joined from both sites. We intentionally kept the groups small and intimate, so the day felt personal, comfortable, and focused entirely on the women who access our services.
Most importantly, the event marked the start of something bigger.
Acorn has announced a committed to creating more intentional spaces like this—places where women feel listened to, supported, and uplifted. This celebration marked the beginning of strengthening women-centred practice across our residential services for a sector where men greatly outnumber women.
The women who attended summed it up best:
“What a wonderful day! Getting together to celebrate women’s success left me feeling inspired to succeed,” – Danielle.
“It was a beautiful day connecting with other women in recovery and celebrating the strength of inspirational women throughout history. Hearing powerful speakers, sharing creativity through things like hairdressing, bracelet making, and seeing everyone join in with my bingo card stall made the whole event feel really uplifting and supportive,” – Hannah.
“Enjoyed the day doing activities and the buffet. Just want to say to all the amazing women out there, may we continue to support one another, lift each other up and remind one another how powerful and beautiful we really are,” – Sharon.
