As artists raise funds for feminist organisation The Circle, there is a new sense of urgency in the need to support gender equality in the UK and worldwide, writes Dr Antoinette Fionda-Douglas

(Image: Dr Antoinette Fionda-Douglas)

Last month, against the backdrop of a world grappling with crises, the Royal Albert Hall was transformed into a stage of unity, power, and hope.

Sisters: Annie Lennox & Friends, the first-ever concert of its kind, brought together an extraordinary line-up of artists, including Beverley Knight, Hozier, and Paloma Faith, to raise funds for The Circle, a global feminist organisation founded 17 years ago by Lennox and other leading women.

More than just a charity, The Circle is a movement – a force for change rooted in the belief that women’s rights are human rights. Since 2008, it has worked tirelessly to support women and girls facing gender-based violence and economic inequality across the world.

From the moment the first note was played, the atmosphere was electric. The concert felt like a beacon of light, igniting hope and strength in a time of darkness.

Legends of music stood side by side with rising stars, amplifying a single, unshakable message: women supporting women can change the world.

The night was filled with performances that stirred the soul, including a breath taking rendition of Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves by Lennox – an anthem that has defined feminist movements for decades.

Reflecting on the event, Livia Firth, founding member and ambassador for The Circle, described it as: “So inspiring and uplifting – just what we all needed.” And indeed, as voices united in song, there was an overwhelming feeling that collective action is not just powerful – it’s unstoppable.

The urgency........

© Herald Scotland