Cheshire: All Our Sisters Empowerment Day to celebrate Romany, Irish Traveller and Roma women
A powerful new event celebrating women from Romany Gypsy, Irish Traveller and Roma communities will take place on 20th April at Nantwich Civic Hall (10am–4pm) in Cheshire.
All Our Sisters Empowerment Day is being described as a first of its kind — a day dedicated entirely to uplifting, supporting and celebrating women across the communities.
The event has been created by Charmaine Abdul Karim and Anna-Marie Smith Clark, National Directors of Pride of Romany. Both women come from strong matriarchal Romany lineage and are the granddaughters of Charlotte Smith and Freedom Smith, two of the most well-known British Romany women in English history. As leaders of a national organisation, they understand the hard work, resilience and strength it takes to build and sustain successful community initiatives, and say they want this day to give back to the incredible women doing that same work every day.
Anna-Marie and Charmaine said:
“We would love to celebrate all the incredible voices and females and show how incredible we all are.”
Empowerment, Representation & Visibility
This will be an incredible day of celebration — women showing up for each other, supporting one another, and proudly clapping for each other’s achievements.
The event brings together community advocates, organisations, influencers and grassroots groups who are making a real difference in Romany Gypsy, Irish Traveller and Roma life such as Connecting Roma and the Traveller movements WEN group.
Well-known Romany influencer Anna-Marie Smith Clark, one of the most recognised Romany social media influencers in the UK, will be livestreaming from the event, alongside major Gypsy and Traveller online voices, helping amplify positive representation and connect communities far beyond the venue.
Anna-Marie Smith Clark said:
“It’s important for us to show that our women not only honour those incredible women who came before us, but also the modern women in our communities today. It’s about women supporting women through action, not just in words.”
Also attending is Mary Collins, a major social media influencer and successful Irish Traveller businesswoman, who is CEO of Sister 2 Sister Aesthetics, representing the strength and leadership of women in business today.
Health Support in a Trusted Space
A key focus of the day is helping women feel more comfortable and confident engaging with health services. Professionals will be present to offer support in a welcoming, culturally aware environment.
Support includes:
NHS health services
Wellbeing advice and guidance
Information to help women feel more at ease with cancer screening
This work is being delivered through Pride of Romany alongside Claire Smith, Dip HE Nursing RN, Project Manager, CCICP Transformation Team, helping ensure health conversations happen in a supportive and reassuring way.
Celebrating Women in Business
A packed shopping day will showcase Romany Gypsy and Traveller women-owned businesses. Stalls will feature homeware, jewellery, baby products and more.
Cupcakes on the day will be supplied by Nikita Price ceo of the Lady Bakes, an incredible Romany woman-owned business, and Pride of Romany are giving attendees beautiful goody bags as part of the celebration.
Above all, the day centres on unity, pride and sisterhood — a space where women can share stories, build connections and celebrate each other.
Charmaine Abdul Karim said:
“It’s about us as women championing each other, learning to share space, and giving each other a round of applause — because it has always been the women who have been the very heart of our incredible communities.”
All Our Sisters Empowerment Day stands as a celebration of identity, heritage, strength and the extraordinary role women continue to play at the heart of Romanichal Gypsy, Irish Traveller and Roma life. Guests are invited to come along, enjoy a glass of fizz, a cupcake, and grab one of our gorgeous gift bags — and be part of a day built on pride, joy and community. Both women agree that real women always support their sisters!
Pride of Romany press release/TT News
(All images courtesy of Pride of Romany)