A women's action group will be hosting its annual general meeting next week.

Women’s Action Network Dorset (WAND) will be hosting the meeting at Borough Gardens House in Dorchester and the group is encouraging people to come along.

After a short report from the chairman about its activities over the last year and the election of its core group and key officers, there will time for networking and a delicious cream tea.

WAND will also be welcoming guest speaker Harriet Still, from Shire Hall to talk about the Radical Dorset Project and Dorset’s Rebellious Women.

The Radical Dorset Project was carried out by Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, with a group of young volunteers from the area. Along the way, the group unearthed records of Dorset women who had stood up for what they believed in, in very different ways. In September, the Radical Dorset project will make way for the Rebellious Sounds Archive.

This project was created by Dreadnought South West, with HLF funding, to record the oral histories of women in the South West who wanted to share their stories of activism. It picks up where Radical Dorset leaves off, charting the ongoing stories of women who have rebelled against injustice today.

Harriet, who is Shire Hall’s events and exhibitions manager, will go through some of the fascinating accounts of these radical Dorset women at the AGM, as well as linking to the recent stories collected as part of the Rebellious Sounds Archive and the way that you can contribute to this project.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, she said: “I’m really excited to be sharing these stories of Dorset women of the past with Dorset women of today. Working within a courthouse that was dominated by men until 1919, it was really interesting to discover these cases of women who found ways of rebelling against politics or injustice outside of the legal system. I’m delighted to be able to bring this legacy into the present with the Rebellious Sounds Archive touring here in September, and to be able to share this opportunity to record contemporary stories."

WAND chairman added: “Our AGM is a great opportunity to find out about WAND and what we do. It’s also a great place to meet up with friends, have a delicious cream tea and hear about some fascinating Dorset Women – and all for free. We’re always looking for new volunteers to join the core group or to help with our events. We hope you’ll join us.”

The event will be taking place on Wednesday, July 18 from 6pm until 7.30pm.

For further information, visit wandwomen.org.uk, email wanddorset@gmail.com or call WAND on 07956 896114.