The University of Cumbria is celebrating International Women’s Day 2026 by shining a highlight on a quantity of exceptional women whose resilience and dedication have remodeled their lives and their professions.
This yr’s International Women’s Day theme, #GiveToAchieve, celebrates the facility of generosity, advocacy, and supporting others. The college is highlighting women throughout its group whose management, creativity, and compassion embody this spirit, together with employees, college students, alumni, and companions at Carlisle United Football Club.
Charlotte Young, communications and engagement officer on the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, spent years managing extreme listening to loss by way of listening to aids and lip-reading, typically feeling remoted and exhausted. In 2022, cochlear implant (CI) surgical procedure modified all the pieces.
Since becoming a member of the college in 2024, Charlotte has turn into an enthusiastic advocate for accessible, inclusive communication and was recognised nationally as a finalist on the CommsHERO Awards 2025. She was not too long ago concerned in a nationwide consciousness elevating marketing campaign with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and is an energetic supporter for the CI group.
Charlotte mentioned: “As a proud member of the university community and a passionate cochlear implant advocate, being recognised on International Women’s Day is very humbling. Working alongside such resilient women who champion inclusion, challenge barriers, and ensure every voice is heard is truly empowering.”
Photo credit score: Piers Allardyce
The college can be celebrating alumnus, Phoebe Grace. A 2025 paramedic diploma apprenticeship graduate, Phoebe’s dedication noticed her overcome main spinal surgical procedure to observe her dream profession on the frontline.
Diagnosed with scoliosis at 15, Phoebe underwent invasive stabilisation surgical procedure and refused to let it outline her future. After starting work as an emergency technician, she joined the East of England Ambulance Service’s paramedic apprenticeship programme with the University of Cumbria. Today, she is a frontline paramedic with ambitions to specialise additional in vital care.
Phoebe says: “I feel truly honoured to be recognised on International Women’s Day. Sharing my journey as a paramedic and an alumna of the University of Cumbria has been an incredible experience. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I hope my story inspires others to pursue their dreams despite their limitations and to share their achievements because we are capable of amazing things!”
As half of its ongoing partnership with Carlisle United Football Club, the college can be celebrating Teresa Mulholland, Carlisle United’s EDI and Mental Health Officer, and Director of Safeguarding, Governance and EDI on the Carlisle United Community Sports Trust. Teresa not too long ago acquired two main honours: Cumbria Woman of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Award on the Diverse Cumbria Awards, recognising 20 years of work championing inclusion, equality, and group cohesion.
Lee McDermot the college’s equality range and inclusion officer mentioned: “As half of the big selection of work we undertake regarding EDI on the college, it’s necessary to pause, recognise and rejoice the women in our quick and wider group on International Women’s Day. As an organisation that’s 66 per cent feminine, we have now a mess of tales that would have been shared, with a compilation of stand-out women being celebrated in our weblog.
“Female leadership, success, and inspiration is included from those working in academia, professional services and partner institutions, alongside student stories, showcasing how the women of the university are creating change now and for the future. Acknowledging this year’s theme of #GiveToGain, it’s important to recognise that we all play a role in advancing gender equality, which can be shaped by giving space, giving opportunity, giving time and more, taking inspiration from those referenced in our blog and beyond.”
To read more, head to the International Women’s Day 2026 blog here
