Former Middlesbrough Ladies manager and England international Marrie Wieczorek and Emma Chesworth, leader of the campaign for a Middlesbrough statue of Ellen Wilkinson MP are guests tomorrow at Ageing Better Middlesbrough Women’s History Project at Newcastle Building Society on Linthorpe Road.

Wieczorek, a leading figure in the development of the Middlesbrough Ladies team, will talk about her experiences playing for England and Middlesbrough and her later career as manager and current role with MFC Foundation. Her career highlights include playing in the Women’s FA Cup Final for Cleveland Spartans and leading the Middlesbrough Ladies team on a historic tour to North Korea.

Ms Chesworth, who established The Eighth Plinth Campaign to address the absence of women amongst seven statues in Middlesbrough (now eight), will discuss the campaign, fundraising for the new statue and efforts to increase public awareness about women who have made their mark.

The Middlesbrough Women’s History Project, a collaboration between Ageing Better Middlesbrough and Heritage Unlocked’s Dr Tosh Warwick, is working with members of the local community to help raise the profile of the role of women in the history of the area.

The project aims to develop community and educational legacies that will help promote the role of women in the area.

Dr Warwick said: “The Ageing Better Middlesbrough Women’s History Project aims to help shed new light on the history of women in the area. By engaging members of the community in research and producing new community and education resources, we hope to heighten awareness and change perceptions by highlighting the important role played by both famous and hidden women in history.”

The event is free to attend.

More information about Ageing Better Middlesbrough can be found at www.ageingbetter

middlesbrough.org.uk