THEY are a group of women with a big voice, yet many people don’t even know the National Council of Women exists at its small base in Darlington. Now, two of its youngest members want to help put them on the map as they encourage younger members to join.

The organisation has been promoting women’s causes since 1895 and aims to ensure equal participation of women in everyday life. Charlotte Kitchen and Alana Sellers are urging young women to join and become the next generation of women with a voice.

Charlotte, 25, from Hutton Rudby, won the “Giving Young Women and Girls a Voice” competition in the North-East in 2013. The PhD student at Durham University raised the issue that women in the UK are, on average, still paid less than their male counterparts.

Charlotte was shocked to find out the truth surrounding women and wages structure.

“We are such a developed country, yet women still find themselves at a disadvantage in many ways compared with men.

I believe gender should not be a consideration in your pay, job or promotion opportunities and that the Government should do more to protect women from such discrimination,” she says.

“Although advances are being made with maternity and paternity rights, we are way behind other advanced nations where gender differences in pay are negligible.’’ Charlotte encourages young women to join the NCW: “We are lucky enough to live in a society where our opinions can be heard openly. The NCW provides the opportunity to mix with and learn from women who have been successful in their own lives.

Many of the older generations of the NCW have lived through gender equality battles much more fundamental than the ones that exist today.’’ Alana Sellers, a businesswoman based in Darlington, also urges younger women to join the organisation. The 30- year-old, founder of personal styling and eco-fashion business, Dress Up Cycle, says: ‘’Unlike some women’s groups, the NCW actually does something and talks about things that matter,” she says. “Members are interested in women’s issues, politics and society. They are represented at the UN and have a say in Parliament.”

Alana says she’s a feminist because the standards for men and women are not “even”. “Women are still not given an equal voice in society and the under representation of women is eternally frustrating. Women need to be more proactive and it is important for young people to be involved because we are the next generation.’”

  • The National Council of Women, 72 Victoria Road, Darlington DL1 5JG Tel: 01325-367375. For more information, email info@ncwgb.org or visit the website at ncwgb.org