Women of West Yorkshire (WoWY) is an inclusive network of diverse women and allies. We share the ambition of creating a region where women can achieve their career potential and have access to job opportunities in inclusive workplaces.
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Location: Darley Street Market Courtyard, Bradford
Date: Friday, 1 August 2025
Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Booking: This is a free event. All welcome, no booking required.
Join the Women of West Yorkshire (WoWY) for a vibrant, empowering festival celebrating the strength, diversity and creativity of women and allies across our region.
Co-chaired by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, and Inclusivity Champion, Fatima Khan-Shah, this outdoor celebration brings together performances, family activities, inspiring voices, and a marketplace full of amazing local makers, artists and community services.
Be part of a community that uplifts, inspires, and connects. Bring your family, your friends, your curiosity and your dancing shoes!
Live performances on the Courtyard Stage celebrating talent from every corner of West Yorkshire.
Time |
What's on? |
|---|---|
| 12:00 - 12:05 | Welcome - Fatima Khan-Shah, Inclusivity Champion |
| 12:05 - 12:15 | Ayesha and Max - Young Poet Laureates |
| 12:15 - 12:20 | Opening - Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire |
| 12:20 - 12:35 | Song-Geet - South Asian women's choir |
| 12:50 - 13:00 | Sometimes I'm Quiet... - Emily Kent, Mesh Dance |
| 13:10 - 13:30 | Caribbean Big Drum - Shaping Care Kirklees |
| 13:40 - 13:55 | Cath Ward - Yorkshire historian and YouTuber |
| 14:05 - 14:20 | Ruby Mackintosh - Vintage vocal from a retro diva |
| 14:30 - 14:45 | The Bradford Belles - Local singing stars |
Drop in anytime between 12:00 - 15:00 for activities for all ages, including:
Location: Darley Street Market (Courtyard), 40 - 44 Darley Street, Bradford, BD1 3HH
Outdoor venue with jumbrellas in level access.
Stroll through a curated market of local businesses, Combined Authority services, community organisations, artists, and makers – all spotlighting the talent and diversity of West Yorkshire. From hand-crafted goods to support services, there’s lots to explore, engage with and take home.
AiAi Studios is a storytelling and production studio based in Leeds.
Living Well is the Bradford district whole systems approach to healthy weight and wellbeing. It is a partnership between Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership. The ‘Living Well’ brand is used to bring coordination to activity from across the area that contributes towards creating a district where it is easier to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
Living Well provides information, advice and support to create an environment that encourages people in Bradford district to eat well, move more and maintain good mental wellbeing.
Club Ekta is dedicated to empowering women through sports, fitness, social connection, and cultural experiences. Our mission is to create a supportive and inclusive space where women can prioritise their well-being, build confidence, and foster meaningful relationships.
Craft for Climate is a community art project in Bradford that uses crafting to raise awareness about climate change. Their main project, "Knit the Stripes," creates a visual representation of Bradford's changing climate by knitting scarves based on temperature data. The project will be on display at Bradford Cathedral during July and August 2025.
Devaiya Oils provide organic self-care.
Drapers England distil luxury spirits.
Feminist Archive North contains a wealth of contemporary material in local, regional, national and international collections donated by individuals and organisations. There are personal and organisational papers, conferences, pamphlets, journals, newsletters, dissertations, oral history interviews, audio tapes, films, posters, badges, tee-shirts and banners. They cover all the issues raised by and responded to by the feminist movement.
Freedom4girls is an organisation fighting period poverty.
Girlguiding is the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in the UK, which aims to offer interesting and exciting opportunities for girls and volunteers to fulfil their potential and make a positive difference to the world we live in.
GoWhoopies is a family ran business based in West Yorkshire - a father and daughter business with a passion for real baking.
A Shipley-based business offering authentic Mexican food.
NERIK is a patent filed smart textile that changes shape, colour, and form when stretched—enabling transformative garments that adapt in real time. Backed by a Innovate UK grant, they have developed five prototypes that demonstrate Nerik’s potential across fashion, defence, sportswear, interiors and automotive.
Their material platform supports sustainable, adaptive design and unlocks new value for both consumers and industry. Think shape-shifting fashion, smart camouflage, or dynamic sportswear—all powered by a single textile system.
Traditional Ukrainian cakes.
Leeds-based design, fashion and textiles.
Power For Women run self-defence workshops and courses.
The Clay Mill is a creative space in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire offering a pottery studio, classes, workshops, and more.
The Stitch Society create clothing and workwear responsibly made in Yorkshire.
Thread Republic was founded in 2022 by four Kirklees-based textile practitioners to offer workshops, socials and events with a focus on sustainability, creativity, community and wellbeing.
West Yorkshire Business and Skills Support provide careers support and business support in West Yorkshire.
Information about our plans for West Yorkshire.
The West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership brings together organisations across local communities to tackle the underlying causes that contribute to serious violent crime.
50 Things to Do Before You’re Five is a great way to find inspiration for fun things to do with your children, and they will help your child’s development too!
You can access our website, or download the app, and printed posters are available throughout the whole of West Yorkshire. Local areas often have posters as a screen-free way for families to choose an activity together. None of our activities are screen-based.
Our digital offer includes dropdown tabs that allow you to explore early learning a little more. It will provide you with the simple resources you may need and how to deliver the activities. There is also an events page where you can find out about local events happening around your area that are either free or low cost, so you can enjoy a family day together.
No – the event is open to everyone including people who aren’t members (yet!). We are open to everyone, but there will be an opportunity to sign up the WoWY network at one of our festival stalls.
Absolutely! We have activities for all ages including craft, stories and face painting and we want to celebrate Yorkshire Day with all the family.
Yes, Darley Street Market is a fully accessible building.
Unfortunately, there are no specific prayer facilities on site, however there are some very close by at the Broadway, just a short 5-minute walk from the event.
Yes, there is no set duration that people need to stay for. Feel free to come along to look around for a little bit or to see specific performances. The event is open so you can come and go as you please.
Yes. Darley Street Market is an incredible new venue so we encourage all attendees to take a look around and see the vendors inside – especially the new food hall!
You can hear more about the WoWY network by becoming a member. You can join by sending an email to our Inclusivity Champion or by coming and speaking to one of the team at the WoWY stall at the festival.
Women of West Yorkshire (WoWY) is an inclusive network of diverse women and allies. We share the ambition of creating a region where women can achieve their career potential and have access to job opportunities in inclusive workplaces. Find out more about why WoWY was set up.
We welcome everyone who supports our ambitions.
To join our network, follow the link below to send an email to our Inclusivity Champion. Once we have received your email, you will be added to our mailing list and a member of the team will confirm your membership.
Networks have been instrumental to my success. I have met some amazing people on my journey who have helped me to grow. To drive forward a West Yorkshire that works for all, it’s important to create a space where people can get together and discuss what matters to them, so we can identify problems and drive positive change.
West Yorkshire’s Inclusivity Champion
The last 12 months have seen tens of thousands of young people receive additional education, more dangerous drivers than ever before brought to justice and new support for victims.
Safer routes to schools and improvements to greenways and towpaths are amongst plans to boost active travel in West Yorkshire.
Housing leaders from across West Yorkshire have come together to accelerate plans for affordable housebuilding in the region.
New figures reveal West Yorkshire’s recent creative and cultural celebrations have contributed to record visitor numbers, as the region celebrates Yorkshire Day.
19 local businesses spearheading innovative solutions to some of the region’s most pressing challenges have been announced today (31 July) as finalists of a £1 million competition for businesses to build a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.
More people will receive wraparound help and employment support when they visit their local GP, hospital, dentist or community hub, as part of a radical overhaul of how people are supported into work in West Yorkshire.
People are being encouraged to have their say on a new transport plan for West Yorkshire as Mayor Tracy Brabin sets out her vision for the Weaver Network.
To join our network, follow the link below to send an email to our Inclusivity Champion. Once we have received your email, you will be added to our mailing list and a member of the team will confirm your membership.