As part of the original workshops the Egham Rangers were asked to write a small statement about what they would like to achieve during the project.

The aim of these section is for you, as a young woman, to understand and appreciate the rights and choices you have today and learn from the stories of some amazing women in history. This is your chance to learn from the past and make your future a little brighter.

The Suffragists had to be able to defend their belief in votes for women when confronted with those who didn’t agree. They understood that to have the best chance in being heard, they had to be united. This section is all about learning how to get your voice heard. In this section, we will learn a variety of ‘speaking up speaking out’ skills: debating, ‘holding the floor’, and talking in front of an audience.

The aim of this section is to empower and prepare girls to feel ready to face the world, and get themselves safe if and when they need to. We are often told by society that girls can’t or shouldn’t fight: we know, of course, that this isn’t true. It is important to understand that this section is not at all about advocating or encouraging violence; rather, it is all about giving girls the chance to experience and remind themselves of their strength. 

In this section, we will create sister bonds with others. By doing this, we also create for ourselves a safe community in which we can practise self-love: just as our Sisters see our worth, we want you to recognise your own worth too.

In this section we will be creating Suffrage-inspired craft as a way of continuing to learn about our female political history. This section will also give you the opportunity to follow in the Suffragist’s footsteps and create a placard that represents something you are passionate about, and what to speak up about. 

When the Suffragettes and Suffragists were campaigning for votes for women, they were at risk of being arrested and sent to prison where they would sometimes be subject to violence, police brutality and force-feeding. So, it was important that they could meet somewhere where they wouldn’t be arrested and where it was socially acceptable for women to meet and be alone together. Tearooms were perfect spaces for the Suffragists to meet, therefore! We will never know what was discussed in these tearoom gatherings, but what we do know is that the tearooms gave women a safe space to sit and share views over a slice of cake and a cuppa.