Stand with Hope

A cross-disciplinary initiative generating discussion on history of women's suffrage, gender inequalities still present in UK society, and raising awareness of UCL’s research in this area.

This collaborative project brought together ten teams from across UCL to encourage, enable, and facilitate conversations on gender equality and intersectional inequities, and to make a space for showcasing the work taking place across the university on inequalities in the UK – including within research, policy, public engagement, central initiatives and the EDI office.

As part of the Stand with Hope campaign, from 14 February to 7 March 2022, the UCL Student Centre hosted 'Hope the Lego Suffragette’ from the House of Commons. A life-size Lego figure, 'Hope' was built to help tell the story of women’s suffrage in the UK. Through a suite of activities and events, open to both the UCL community and the public, the campaign generated significant impact, facilitating debate on gender equality in the UK and showcasing UCL’s research and engagement on this important topic.

The campaign aimed to encourage UCL’s communities to share diverse, untold stories around suffrage and inequalities and what needs to change to create a truly equal society today. Over 700 people attended events, over 92,000 people visited the Student Centre during Hope's visit, and more than a 1000 people listened to podcasts in the Stand with Hope series. UCL's Portico was also illuminated in the colours of the suffragette movement, to mark Hope's time at UCL.  

In addition, a Twitter campaign involved more than 32 departments across UCL and received hundreds of shares in the lead up to International Women's Day 2022. Hope's visit was also covered in news stories and in the national media, including Londonist, and featured under 'What to do in London for International Women's Day' in TimeOut.