Tower Hamlets Council is putting on a range of events to celebrate the contribution of women and girls to complement a range of dedicated support available for them to use.
March is Women’s History Month, and this Sunday 8 March is International Women’s Day. They celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The International Women's Day 2026 theme is 'Give to Gain', emphasizing the power of reciprocity and support.
The council is putting on a month long programme of events and activities including Tower Hamlets Women’s Spring Open Exhibition opening this Friday 6 March at the Brady Centre in Whitechapel; a day of celebration at the Town Hall on Saturday 7 March, to mark International Women’s Day; the Women in Business Festival at the Town Hall running from 6 to 8 March; and a programme of sport and physical activities for women and girls including swimming, cycling, boxing, self-defence, badminton, basketball and football tournaments.
In terms of wider services, the council has increased its support for women and girls in the borough. Last month, it opened the Nari Centre in Aldgate East and a girls youth centre in Bow.
The Nari Centre provides a safe, women only environment where women and girls of all ages can access essential services, activities and events. It features classrooms, an IT suite, creche facilities, a community kitchen, and dedicated spaces for one-to-one support.
The Young Tower Hamlets youth centre in St Paul’s Way is a new, dedicated youth centre for girls strengthening the council's commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces for young people. Currently around three quarters (74 per cent) of young people attending youth centres in Tower Hamlets are boys.
Last year, the council introduced free swimming for women and girls, along with men over 55. Since then, more than 20,000 people have signed up, with women making up over 90%. In total, 37,277 memberships have been taken up with the council’s Be Well leisure centres with 82% being female.
Positive gender pay gap
The council is also creating more opportunities among its employees to support women. Its most recent Workforce Pay Gap report shows a positive gender pay gap for the first time. The council’s gender pay gap has been reducing year on year, with the aim to get it as close to zero per cent as possible.
The council’s mean gender pay gap has changed from a negative gap of 0.60% in 2024 to a positive gap of -2.03% in 2025, which means that women are now paid 2.03% more than men.
Nationally, women in English local authorities were paid 3% less than men according to mean pay. Tower Hamlets also has the smallest mean gender pay gap compared to neighbouring boroughs.
Women make up 54% of the council workforce. In terms of their distribution by earnings, 55% of employees in the top quartile of earnings are women, that figure is 58% in the second quartile, 59% the third quartile, and 42% of employees in the lowest quartile of earnings are women.
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Notes to Editors
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A dedicated hub created to support, empower and connect women: The recently opened and fully modernised Nari Centre, in Aldgate East provides a safe, women only environment where women and girls of all ages can access essential services, activities and events. It features classrooms, an IT suite, creche facilities, a community kitchen, and dedicated spaces for one-to-one support. The centre offers a wide range of programmes for local women including lifelong learning courses, employment support, digital skills and parenting workshops. It also provides advice on housing, benefits, legal issues, support with domestic violence, counselling, and emotional wellbeing - alongside women only activities, sports, creative sessions and onsite childcare. For more information visit www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/nari
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Dedicated youth centre for girls: A new, dedicated youth centre for girls opened last month on St Paul’s Way in Bow, strengthening the council's commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces for young people. The opening follows feedback from young women and girls and ensures young people’s needs are reflected in its services. Currently around three quarters (74 per cent) of young people attending youth centres in Tower Hamlets are boys.
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Removing barriers to physical activity: The council’s free swimming programme was introduced to inspire more residents to be active, with a focus on groups who traditionally face more barriers to participation. Women, older adults, and those with health conditions are less likely to engage in regular physical activity. More than 20,000 people have signed up for free swimming membership, with women making up over 90% of those who have enlisted. In total, 37,277 memberships have been taken up with Be Well, with a gender split of 18% male and 82% female.
Posted on Thursday 5th March 2026