International Women’s Day on March 8 will be celebrated by Essex County Council’s Snapping the Stiletto project with the launch of a new website.

Volunteers are being recruited to help highlight stories of inspirational Essex women from the past 100 years, since the first British women gained the right to vote in 1918.

‘Snapping the Stiletto’ is a county-wide project, launched by the council’s cultural development department. The public can get involved by conducting research, helping with events and promoting the project on social media. There are also training opportunities available.

It aims to reveal the currently hidden and overlooked stories of women who have lived in the county and investigate how women’s rights, roles and opportunities have changed.

Another aim is to dispel the negative stereotype of ‘Essex Girls’ by highlighting the lives and achievements of strong Essex women.

Cllr Susan Barker, cabinet member for culture, said: ““Essex women have played a vital role throughout history, and this has only grown more significantly over the last century.

“I am delighted to celebrate the important history of the role of women in Essex in this landmark year. I am looking forward to hearing about the inspirational stories of women in Essex uncovered by the Snapping the Stiletto project.”

The Essex cultural development department has received a grant for £95,445 from the Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund to deliver the project in partnership with museums across the county, Essex Record Office and the University of Essex.

Museum partners include Colchester and Ipswich Museums and Essex Police Museum.

For more information, visit the new website.