We may only be a few weeks into 2018 but, so far, this year feels like things are going to be different for women. They have to.

The first day of January came with the announcement of Times UP, spearheaded by some of Hollywood's biggest names. Shortly afterwards, the usually glitzy and tongue-in-cheek Golden Globes came around but this time women wore black in protest of sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood. Instead of the usual 'Who are you wearing?', showbiz reporters asked about their thoughts on the movement.

Just a week later, one of the BBC's most respected reporters resigned over being paid much less than her male counterparts. As well as this, more brave women and men have come forward with allegations in fields from gymnastics to fashion.

In the UK, all this is going on against the backdrop of an important milestone: 100 years since women were given the right to vote. Well some women, it was 1928 before the right was rolled out to all women over 18, whether they were married or not.

Nevertheless, it's an important time to recognise, remember and celebrate both the achievement and the suffragists and suffragettes who fought for tirelessly and, in some cases painfully, so that we can be on par with men when it comes to our democratic right.

As is always the case, more needs to be done. The gender pay gap is evidently a continuing problem, we still don't have equal representation in politics or business and, unfortunately, despite the fame of some of the movements mentioned, there continues to be men who seem to just not get it.

So, use 2018 to rally on and keep fighting. There are so many worthy causes to get behind, but if you're are a bit stuck on where to start, take a look at some of the amazing work of the groups below.

Plan International

This humanitarian organisation strives towards advancing children's right and gaining gender equality for girls. The charity is international but the UK arm also focuses on a number of important issues at home too. They previously pushed for the introduction of sex education into the national curriculum, which was successful, and this year, a main campaign is to break down the taboos around menstruation and stop period poverty (one way they're doing this is by calling for a period emoji).

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Plan International

Internationally, the charity are continuing to push for an end to child marriage, gender-based violence, sending more women into education and focusing on the harm caused by trafficking.

You can get involved by signing up to be a campaigner with the Because I Am A Girl campaign, donating to the Girl's Fund or taking part in their new campaign by hosting a Do Good Dinner.

Young Women's Trust

This charity supports women between the ages of 16 to 30 on low or no pay. They offer services like career coaching and CV feedback from HR professionals to help women boost their confidence and take their next steps into the working world.

The Trust campaigns for a fairer financial future for young women so often turn their focus towards closing the gender pay gap (the charity estimates women miss out on £9,112 a year as a result of the unfair system).

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Young Women's Trust
The Young Women\'s Trust team

This year, the Trust are campaigning to support young women in male-dominated sectors like engineering and construction and calling for apprenticeships that work for young women. They will also continue to fight for a change in the law to make sure women and men under 25 are on the same National Living Wage as everyone else.

You can get involved in the YWT's work by joining their Facebook group, their advisory panel, becoming a YWT champion and donating.

My Body Back

Two years ago, My Body Back formed to provide women who have experienced sexual violence with specialist reproductive and gynaecological healthcare. Working with the NHS, they offered STI testing, cervical screening, contraceptive fitting and pre-birth and post-birth maternity care after finding that women who had experienced sexual violence weren't accessing these services.

The charity operates a clinic in London and, from February, will open in Glasgow. They also run workshops on how to enjoy sex and masturbation after rape or sexual assault.

This year, the group are focused on expanding their Scottish branch and are also dedicated to making their important service accessible across the UK.

You can support My Body Back by volunteering if you live in or near London or Glasgow, donating to the charity, or supporting on social media.

The FPA

The FPA is a long-running charity fighting for women's rights to sexual health, wellbeing and bodily autonomy. As well as providing a plethora of information on contraception, sexually transmitted infections and diseases and teenage pregnancy, over the past few years the charity has helped to end the government ban on funding abortion care for women travelling to the UK from Northern Ireland, make sex and relationships education in schools compulsory and launch a new sexual health information project.

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FPA
The FPA team campaigning against cuts to contraception services

For 2018, the charity are continuing its fight for abortion rights in Northern Ireland as well as working to ensure that mandatory sex education included in the new curriculum gives children and young people enough, and the right, information. They will also continue to fight against cuts to sexual health and contraception services.

Following the FPA on Twitter is a great place to start getting involved or you can donate.

Savera UK

Savera works to safeguard women at risk of 'honour'-based violence, FGM, forced marriages and domestic abuse within Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in the UK. The charity also works to raise awareness among professionals, practitioners, in schools and the community about these areas. Primarily working in Merseyside and Chester, they are hoping to one day be able to support victims across the UK, should funding allow it. They currently offer face-to-face support for those who fall within the area and have a helpline which gets calls from across the UK and beyond.

You can get involved by volunteering, donating, fundraising or by sponsoring Savera's programme, projects, events or campaigns. Find out more via their website.

Women For Refugee Women

This charity challenges the injustices faced by women who have had to flee their own country and seek safety and support here in the UK. The charity helps the women build up their confidence and communication skills - through English lessons, advice sessions, group yoga, drama classes and lunches - and also works with policy makers for a "fairer asylum process in the UK".

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Ana Norman Bermudez
Women for Refugee Women\'s #SetHerFree campaign against locking up women seeking asylum in detention centres

For the last five years, they have ran a campaign called #SetHerFree which protested against the locking up of female asylum seekers in detention centres, the campaign has helped the introduction of a 72-hour time limit on the immigration detention of pregnant women.

You can find out more and donate here.

Rights of Women

The importance of legal funding for victims of sexual assault and harassment has been given renewed attention in recent weeks thanks to the Times Up defence fund, but in the UK one organisation has been rallying this cause since 1975. Rights of Women's mission is to provide women with free, confidential, legal advice, enable women to understand and benefit from their legal rights and campaign to ensure women's voices are heard in law and policy.

The charity hear daily from women who could be victims of domestic and/or sexual violence, fearful their children will be taken away from them or have an insecure immigration status and require help and clarity. The organisation is full of volunteer female solicitors, barristers and legal executives who help run the all-important advice line women can call. This year, they're focusing on promoting changes to legal aid for domestic abuse survivors and making recommendations for the proposed Domestic Abuse Bill.

Find out about volunteering here, you can also donate to Rights of Women or become a supporter or campaigner.

National Ugly Mugs (NUM)

NUM is a national organisation aimed at protecting and defending the rights of sex workers, the organisation highlights that 182 sex workers have been murdered in the UK since 1990. The charity, which began in 2012, took inspiration for the scheme from Australia where a sex workers group had circulated descriptions of 'ugly mugs' (dangerous men) to warn other sex workers about dangerous individuals who could be serial sexual predators. Last year, NUM received over 600 reports from sex workers about crimes committed against them, the group then use this information to send out warnings to thousands of sex workers across the country.

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NUM
The National Ugly Mugs team

This year, the group are continuing with their pledge 'to the 20,000 sex workers they reach' to continue the fight to end violence against sex workers by fighting stigma and working to ensure sex worker's voices are heard. Their other general aims are to bring justice to offenders who target sex workers, support sex workers in accessing frontline services, increase the number of crimes against sex workers reported to the police (the charity say sex workers are often reluctant to go to authorities) and enhance levels of intelligence across the UK about dangerous criminals.

To get involved you can raise awareness of the scheme or donate.

The Fawcett Society

As mentioned, this year will mark 100 years since women were given the vote in the UK. The Fawcett society has been running for over 150 years and was started by the famous suffragist Millicent Fawcett (who will be commemorated this year with a statue in Parliament Square). It was renamed in 1953 in her honour.

Despite this huge milestone and the fact women are obviously more equal than in the 1900s, there is so much more to be done. The Fawcett Society have launched their 'centenary year' to honour the milestone and are using it to continue to campaign for gender equality including closing the gender pay gap, increasing the representation of women in politics, the working world and public life, ending discrimination and making sure women stop being hit the hardest by economic downturn, austerity and cuts.

Find out how you can become a member, volunteer and get involved with the centenary year here.

Lettermark
Olivia Blair
Olivia Blair is Talent Editor at Hearst UK, working predominantly across Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Esquire and Harper's Bazaar. Olivia covers all things entertainment and has interviewed the likes of Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, Timothée Chalamet and Cynthia Erivo over the years.