Tricia Allen honours a feminist who paved the way.

I donated money to Rosa when it first started up in 2008 in memory of my aunt Mildred or Madeleine (as she was known to her feminist friends) Levius who died in September 2005. Mildred was a feminist much of her life and devoted considerable time and energy to numerous women’s causes. She was passionate about promoting the role of the older woman and in particular combating the negative stereotype of older women in both society and indeed feminist circles.

She was co-founder of the Older Feminists’ Network which was formed in 1982 in order to give a voice to the concerns of older women. The OFN still meets today in London once a month.

She was also the inspiration behind and co-founder of Older Women’s Co-Housing in 1998 which aims to create a co-housing community for women aged over fifty.

My aunt would have been thrilled about Rosa and the support available to help women of all ages and from so many different walks of life.