For immediate release: Thursday 20 March 2025
Lamplight Procession to Shine a Light on Care
Bristol Women’s Voice invites everyone to join a powerful lamplight procession through Bristol’s Old Town on Saturday 22 March, starting at 6:30 PM from St Nicholas Street. The event, Shine a Light on Care, will highlight the essential contributions of mothers, parents and carers and advocate for better visibility and support in workplaces and beyond.
Participants will carry lanterns bearing messages from women with caring responsibilities, illuminating the city streets in a show of solidarity and allyship. The procession is a key initiative of the Value the Caring Economy Campaign, which urges employers to reassess their policies and create more supportive working conditions for people with caring responsibilities.
In a striking display of advocacy, The Invisible Army will join the event, bringing their Carers Strike placards. These placards feature messages from carers responding to the question: “If you were to join a carers strike, what would be written on your placard?” Over 100 powerful statements will be carried through the city, amplifying the voices of those often unheard and unseen.
Dahlia von Carolath, Community Organiser at Bristol Women’s Voice, emphasises the significance of this event:
“We want to celebrate and honour the contributions we all make when caring for others—our children, parents, and neighbours. We invite Bristolians to carry a placard or lantern and stand in solidarity with those who cannot attend due to their caring responsibilities, health or mobility restrictions. Everyone is welcome to join, this will be a beautiful, peaceful spectacle of creative expression celebrating and honouring care and those who care for others as the backbone of society.”
Katy Taylor, Director of Bristol Women’s Voice, underscores the economic impact of undervaluing care:
“One of the biggest drivers of women’s economic inequality is the lack of investment in child and adult social care and we know from the women we work with the lack of financial support for carers is often the biggest challenge they face.
“Women working part-time so they can provide care earn less, accumulate smaller pensions, and face long-term financial disadvantage. The inflexibility of employment for those with caring responsibilities really adds to the problem. According to census data, 28% of carers are themselves disabled, and particularly now, with central government announcements on benefits changes, workplaces must become more accessible. ”
In collaboration with alliance partners, the campaign is urging employers to proactively identify and support carers in their workforce. This includes conducting annual staff surveys to recognise carers and offering essential benefits such as:
- Flexible working arrangements as a standard practice
- Five additional paid days for caregiving needs, separate from sick leave and annual leave
- The option to take caring leave in small increments (e.g., hourly slots)
- Workplace nursery schemes to support parents returning to work
Katy Taylor adds:
“We want to foster a workplace culture that values and supports carers. Simple changes can significantly improve staff retention and promote inclusive employment. Recognising and accommodating carers benefits not just individuals, but entire organisations.”
In a symbolic gesture of the city’s commitment to valuing care, Bristol City Hall will be illuminated in soft orange and pink on the evening of 22 March.
ENDS
Notes to the editors:
For further information, please contact:
Claire Charras
Communications Coordinator
media@bristolwomensvoice.org.uk
07733 133 986
Dahlia von Carolath, Community Organiser and Katy Taylor, Director are available for interview.
About Bristol Women’s Voice
Bristol Women’s Voice is a charity working towards making women’s equity a reality in Bristol through campaigning, connecting and celebrating.
Photos & videos
Photos of the lanterns can be found here
Photos and videos of the procession can be sent on Saturday evening or Sunday morning as requested. Please contact Claire Charras to advise.
About Shine a Light on Care
The lanterns have been created through a series of workshops in collaboration with Lamplighters Arts CIC over the past four months. Community and women’s groups who took part in lantern-making workshops include: Mothers for Mothers, Dhek Bhal, Chinese Community Wellbeing Society, Bring your Own Baby Choir.
BYOB Choir have written a song especially for the procession and will be performing during the event.
Speakers:
- Anndeloris Chacon, Bristol Black Carers CEO
- Carina Andrews, Invisible Army, Founder
- Susy Guillari, Carers Support Centre, Policy Engagement Lead
- Dahlia von Carolath, Bristol Women’s Voice, Community Organiser
- Katy Taylor, Bristol Women’s Voice, Director
The start point is the corner of Castle Park opposite St Nicholas St. What3words: https://w3w.co/olive.scarcely.plank
About Value the Caring Economy Campaign
We are an alliance of organisations in Bristol representing its diverse communities: Bristol Black Carers, Bristol Women in Business, Bristol Women’s Commission, Bristol Women’s Voice, Carers Support Centre, Chinese Community Wellbeing Society, Co-Produce Care, WECIL and Women’s Budget Group.
We call on employers, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), Bristol City Council and national government to adopt the caring economy as a strategic driver for investment across public services, training, skills, transport, environmental sustainability and for those disadvantaged by poverty and discrimination.
