The International Women's Day centenary was marked in Manchester by a day of art, drama and creative writing by the city's Muslim Jewish Forum at Manchester Town Hall.

Sixty-five women explored the theme of "100 years and 100 voices", creating interactive books based on quotes from inspirational women. Childhood stories were also shared.

Workshop facilitators Nikki Mailer and Laura Nathan were encouraged by "this great demand from women in both Muslim and Jewish communities to come together for such a positive and warm celebration".

Echoing the sentiment, the Muslim community's Yasmin Bibi said it was "lovely to see women from different backgrounds having so much fun sharing their experiences and creating some very personal pieces of work." Participants ranged in age from 16 to 75.

Ms Mailer said it "would be really lovely to find funding to keep the event going every year, and hopefully for a sustainable project where the women can meet more frequently".

Women from different backgrounds were having so much fun

In Liverpool, the Board of Deputies' first female vice-president, Rosalind Preston, addressed 100 women at Allerton Synagogue on some of the changes in women's leadership roles within the community.

Her audience included former Merseyside Jewish Representative Council president Naomi Kingston, who said women had always had a powerful voice in Liverpool.

"There are many challenges in the Jewish community for women which Rosalind threw out and which haven't changed, but certainly issues like support for agunot have seen a great deal of change."