A new Yorkshire-based charity focused on ‘leading and inspiring female talent’ launched this weekend.

LIFT hosted their International Women’s Day launch event in Stocksbridge Library on Saturday 4 March.

Co-founders Chloe Wallace and Lynsey Rowe created the community interest charity after realising they had a mutual desire to create change.

Ms Rowe said: “It’s come about from chance conversations we’ve had about us both wanting to do something but not knowing how or who with.”

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating women which is held on 8 March each year.

The day acts as a call to action to accelerate and improve on female equality in the workplace, sport and everyday life.

As Ms Wallace introduced the charity and explained why it was launching, it was clear why they had chosen to use International Women’s Day as a starting point.

Citing statistics from the Home Office, she said: “There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls.

“Men make up 98% of world leaders, 75% of high court judges and 61% of lower court judges. 67% of UK MP’s and 87.5% of police and crime commissioners are men.

“Equality doesn’t exist for women. Equity doesn’t exist for women.”

The conference hosted several female speakers who gave talks on topics regarding women’s issues and female empowerment.

Kay Degans R.N. spoke on female sexual health myths, creating an open dialogue about STI testing and female pleasure for people who may otherwise feel uncomfortable speaking about it.

Gemma Rose, a sex worker and activist, gave a seminar on why it is important to support strippers and provided a platform for women to ask any questions they had about sex work in a space free from judgement.

Chloe Wallace also gave talks on female success in the workplace and victim blaming.

A series of workshops were held as part of the event with the aim of teaching women who want to learn new skills but don’t know how to get started.

These included an aromatherapy workshop hosted by Fulham Ketch Fitness and a sugarcraft workshop with Hatfield Woodhouse Sugarcraft Group.

Ms Wallace said: “LIFT exists to provide women with opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.’

The LIFT conference will become an annual event to provide a learning platform and allow women to speak out about issues that are important to them.

Tickets to the launch event were £22 and it was sponsored by Fulham Ketch Fitness, OneSource HR, TA Creative and McGilveray’s Restaurant Bar.