19 Mar 2026, 15:40Nicole GoodenLondon, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Clapton SDA Church and Hackney Baby Bank Celebrate International Women’s Day
On Sunday, 8th March, Clapton Adventist Church opened its doors to a vibrant and diverse gathering as it celebrated International Women’s Day in collaboration with the Hackney Baby Bank. The event brought together over 120 women and children from more than 16 countries, creating a powerful environment of sisterhood, support, and celebration. Women of all ages — young, elderly, single, married, with babies and older children — came to honour womanhood and build meaningful community connections.
The programme was rich, uplifting, and warmly received. Guests enjoyed:
Soothing music and heartfelt prayer, creating a space of reflection and peace.
Health checks, supporting the physical wellbeing of women.
Delicious home-cooked meals, with produce generously provided by:
Stratford Community Food Bank
Highams Park Church Food Bank
The Advent Centre
This united community effort ensured every woman felt seen, valued, and honoured.
The Walthamstow Pathfinders played a wonderful role in supporting the children throughout the day. They led fun and meaningful activities such as:
Badge making
Mother’s Day card creation
Bookmark crafting
These creative moments allowed mothers to relax, connect, and enjoy the programme while their children were beautifully engaged.
A significant highlight was the inspiring session by Clapton’s resident Elder Ottilia Dube, a Safeguarding Supervisor, Specialist Health Visitor, and Counsellor.
Her presentation empowered women to see themselves as change makers within their homes and communities. Her words resonated deeply, leading to an outpouring of gratitude from many mothers. One message especially captured the heart of the celebration:
“Women should support women even when we don’t always stand in the same place. And if some people choose not to uplift other women… the rest of us will.”
Many women expressed how the event helped ease feelings of loneliness and provided new friendships and support networks. Several families also requested:
Baby dedications
Bible studies
The formation of a mothers’ support group
It became clear that this was not just an event, but a doorway to deeper spiritual and community engagement.
Matthew from Dentaid, a dentist committed to community care, led an engaging and interactive session for children and families on tooth hygiene. His workshop provided practical, fun guidance that families could easily apply at home.
To close the celebration, every mother received a beautiful bag of toiletries, kindly donated by church members and the wider community. These thoughtful gifts served as a tangible reminder of love, dignity, and the value placed on every woman present.
The International Women’s Day celebration at Clapton Church, made possible through collaboration with the Hackney Baby Bank, showcased the true spirit of community: women uplifting women, churches serving families, and people connecting across cultures and life experiences. It was a day defined by compassion, empowerment, and lasting bonds.
Congratulations to everyone who contributed. The community saw it — and it made a difference.
On Sunday, 8th March, Clapton Adventist Church opened its doors to a vibrant and diverse gathering as it celebrated International Women’s Day in collaboration with the Hackney Baby Bank. The event brought together over 120 women and children from more than 16 countries, creating a powerful environment of sisterhood, support, and celebration. Women of all ages — young, elderly, single, married, with babies and older children — came to honour womanhood and build meaningful community connections.
The programme was rich, uplifting, and warmly received. Guests enjoyed:
Soothing music and heartfelt prayer, creating a space of reflection and peace.
Health checks, supporting the physical wellbeing of women.
Delicious home-cooked meals, with produce generously provided by:
Stratford Community Food Bank
Highams Park Church Food Bank
The Advent Centre
This united community effort ensured every woman felt seen, valued, and honoured.
The Walthamstow Pathfinders played a wonderful role in supporting the children throughout the day. They led fun and meaningful activities such as:
Badge making
Mother’s Day card creation
Bookmark crafting
These creative moments allowed mothers to relax, connect, and enjoy the programme while their children were beautifully engaged.
A significant highlight was the inspiring session by Clapton’s resident Elder Ottilia Dube, a Safeguarding Supervisor, Specialist Health Visitor, and Counsellor.
Her presentation empowered women to see themselves as change makers within their homes and communities. Her words resonated deeply, leading to an outpouring of gratitude from many mothers. One message especially captured the heart of the celebration:
“Women should support women even when we don’t always stand in the same place. And if some people choose not to uplift other women… the rest of us will.”
Many women expressed how the event helped ease feelings of loneliness and provided new friendships and support networks. Several families also requested:
Baby dedications
Bible studies
The formation of a mothers’ support group
It became clear that this was not just an event, but a doorway to deeper spiritual and community engagement.
Matthew from Dentaid, a dentist committed to community care, led an engaging and interactive session for children and families on tooth hygiene. His workshop provided practical, fun guidance that families could easily apply at home.
To close the celebration, every mother received a beautiful bag of toiletries, kindly donated by church members and the wider community. These thoughtful gifts served as a tangible reminder of love, dignity, and the value placed on every woman present.
The International Women’s Day celebration at Clapton Church, made possible through collaboration with the Hackney Baby Bank, showcased the true spirit of community: women uplifting women, churches serving families, and people connecting across cultures and life experiences. It was a day defined by compassion, empowerment, and lasting bonds.
Congratulations to everyone who contributed. The community saw it — and it made a difference.
