On Friday the 8^th of March we’ll be honouring International Women’s Day (IWD) and this year we’re celebrating the theme of #InspiringInclusion. This amazing theme aims to help people understand the value of the inclusion of women, and bring a sense of belonging and empowerment to women worldwide.

So, how about taking up some inspiration yourself and looking at some of the most influential women to come from the North East?

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Image Source : @stephhoughton2

Steph Houghton – A Sporting Hero

Brought up in South Hetton, a small village just above Durham, Steph’s career has taken her across the world, but her North East roots still show on and off the pitch. Steph has said before she, ‘is proud to be from the North East’ and it’s somewhere she loves dearly.

Houghton came through Sunderland’s Academy and was playing for their first team in 2005, at only 17 years old, and the following season she won the FA Young Player of the Year Award. She followed her childhood successes by studying Sports Science at Loughborough University and has said she ‘always knew she was going to be playing football, just never professionally’.

After University, she went on to play for Sunderland, Leeds, Arsenal, and Manchester City – where she is currently captain of the first team. Following her efforts on the pitch, she was then selected to play for England and even went to the Toyoko 2012 Olympic games, something she was honoured to do.

In 2016 Steph received an MBE in the Queen’s Honours List to celebrate her glittering career and to promote success in women's football. So we think it’s safe to say she’s definitely a sporting hero of the North East for women.

Image Source: @kay.carter.studios

Kay Carter – Getting Creative

Kay Carter is an amazing artist based just along the coast in North Shields, creating some amazing ceramic fits to suit anyone’s home. Her studio hosts an array of items that will fit any colour scheme you want to decorate your apartment with and not break the bank.

Kay does workshops around the UK, giving people the opportunity to make unique items for their homes or loved ones in whatever designs they fancy on the day. All her artwork is eco-friendly too, and everything is ‘made with love,’ as Kay says. From vases to plant pots and soap dishes, her work will bring some personality to your home and add character, for sure.

Kay has her studio in Light House Art Space in North Shields, so why not take a trip to the coast and spend some time looking at Kay’s work?

Image Source: @purekneadbakery

Paula Watson – The Taste of Love

Paula is the owner of PureKnead bakery, one of Newcastle’s most popular spots for a little sweet or savoury treat. Back in 2015, PureKnead bakery started in Paula’s kitchen in the beautiful town of Tynemouth, making cakes and bread for her family and friends.

She then took her business to Tynemouth market and wanted to expand her business as she loved the friendly community atmosphere that her stall brought to the markets. Paula then knew it was time to find a place to call home, and settled into a little shop in Whitley Bay where PureKnead would bring a warm and family feel atmosphere to the seaside town.

As things got busier, Paula then decided to expand further and settled on Dean Street in the city centre, where PureKnead is now based and is super popular with a varied audience in the city centre.

PureKnead serves up a range of artisan breads, cakes, pastries, and sandwiches as well as cake commission services; allowing people to create cakes tailored to suit them for any occasion, making this the perfect place for a pastry and coffee when you’re out and about in the heart of Newcastle.

It’s time to celebrate the women in your life and #InspireInclusion this IWD.

Who would you include on your list of amazing women from the toon? So why not tell us which women inspire you on our socials? We’d love to hear.