The Women's Workshop held its first showing of the New Life Project trainees' film New Life, New Start on 20th January this year. The making of the film was a project run by the Film & Video tutor, Claire Purvis. It was made over the first 20 weeks of the New Life Project from October 2008 to December 2008.
The Project works with young mothers aged 16 - 25 and young pregnant women from in and around Cardiff, addressing the multiple issues faced by these young women and their children.
The students in the video group took part in the writing, producing and filming of the video. The film includes the trainees talking about their expectations and experiences of the New Life course and the new start they have undertaken.
The showing was attended by the trainees' friends and families, support workers from Barnardos, AWETU, the Women's Workshop staff and Management Committee, as well as other agencies and partners of the Workshop.
The video group presented the video to the audience and received certificates. The audience greatly enjoyed the showing and were treated to a buffet lunch afterwards.
The trainees have now gone on to various volunteering opportunities in the community. The New Life project staff would like to thank the group for their hard work and congratulate them on their excellent achievements.
Lindsay Jackson, Project Co-ordinator
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
User Group Forum
The Women's Workshop User Group Forum was set up to encourage trainees from the Women Get Fit project to get more involved in the running of their project and the Workshop. The Forum is made up of Workshop volunteers and current and former trainees.
The forum meets every 8-12 weeks to discuss some of the issues that arise from their experiences of being on the Women Get Fit project. They discuss issues that have arisen during classes and also give suggestions for future events, taster sessions and projects they would like the Workshop to provide.
It allows women who are on the project the opportunity to meet with the staff who work on the project, to practice their spoken English and to talk with other women who are on, or who have been on the project.
So far the forum has come up with some excellent suggestions regarding future extra sessions, ranging from arts and crafts sessions, to health and welbeing sessions such as Breast Cancer Awareness, aromatherapy and pampering days. These would be provided alongside the First Aid, Confidence Building and Personal Development sessions we are looking at providing in the near future.
One of the most helpful outcomes of our running the Forum has been their input into the larger events that we plan throughout the year. The User Group has been very helpful in deciding on our afternoon events for our International Women's Day celebration on 12th March, 2009.
Helen Watling, Event Co-ordinator
The forum meets every 8-12 weeks to discuss some of the issues that arise from their experiences of being on the Women Get Fit project. They discuss issues that have arisen during classes and also give suggestions for future events, taster sessions and projects they would like the Workshop to provide.
It allows women who are on the project the opportunity to meet with the staff who work on the project, to practice their spoken English and to talk with other women who are on, or who have been on the project.
So far the forum has come up with some excellent suggestions regarding future extra sessions, ranging from arts and crafts sessions, to health and welbeing sessions such as Breast Cancer Awareness, aromatherapy and pampering days. These would be provided alongside the First Aid, Confidence Building and Personal Development sessions we are looking at providing in the near future.
One of the most helpful outcomes of our running the Forum has been their input into the larger events that we plan throughout the year. The User Group has been very helpful in deciding on our afternoon events for our International Women's Day celebration on 12th March, 2009.
Helen Watling, Event Co-ordinator
Introducing the New Life Project
The New Life Project for young mothers aged 16 - 25 has been up and running since July 2008. Courses started full-time in September 2008. The project is split into 3 sections, Strand 1, Strand 2 and Strand 3.
I have had a fantastic time getting to know the team and getting to grips with my job as Recruitment and Support Officer. My role in the New Life Project is to organise the timetable, recruitment and inductions, and to support the women through their learning journey.
The course runs for 3 days per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10:15am and 3:00pm. The course is designed to give the young mothers 'time-out' for their own personal development, and opportunities for them to grow as a parent. We provide a creche whilst the young women are attending their classes.
The project includes: 10-week sessions of IT, health and fitness, cookery and digital photography. Personal development and confidence building is taught through film-making. The women are working towards producing a film that will be shown in January 2009 at the Women's Workshop for the new recruits onto the course.
In Digital Photography the group learnt how to take good photos and were let loose with the cameras. They had great fun taking pictures of Cardiff Bay and their children. They learnt how to edit and print their pictures. They have their own memory stick to encourage them to keep snapping away to record their time here.
Cookery is fun as each week the group prepare and cook a meal for themselves and their children - usually there is some left for me too! The lunchtime is a great time for the group to relax together and get to know each other personally as well as helping their children learn good eating habits.
Other sessions have included activities designed to enhance children's language and skills; creative play and music and movement.
In January 2009 this group moved on to the volunteering strand of the project and a new group started. We wish them good luck for their progress.
Lindsay Jackson, Recruitment & Support Officer, NewLife Project.
I have had a fantastic time getting to know the team and getting to grips with my job as Recruitment and Support Officer. My role in the New Life Project is to organise the timetable, recruitment and inductions, and to support the women through their learning journey.
The course runs for 3 days per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10:15am and 3:00pm. The course is designed to give the young mothers 'time-out' for their own personal development, and opportunities for them to grow as a parent. We provide a creche whilst the young women are attending their classes.
The project includes: 10-week sessions of IT, health and fitness, cookery and digital photography. Personal development and confidence building is taught through film-making. The women are working towards producing a film that will be shown in January 2009 at the Women's Workshop for the new recruits onto the course.
In Digital Photography the group learnt how to take good photos and were let loose with the cameras. They had great fun taking pictures of Cardiff Bay and their children. They learnt how to edit and print their pictures. They have their own memory stick to encourage them to keep snapping away to record their time here.
Cookery is fun as each week the group prepare and cook a meal for themselves and their children - usually there is some left for me too! The lunchtime is a great time for the group to relax together and get to know each other personally as well as helping their children learn good eating habits.
Other sessions have included activities designed to enhance children's language and skills; creative play and music and movement.
In January 2009 this group moved on to the volunteering strand of the project and a new group started. We wish them good luck for their progress.
Lindsay Jackson, Recruitment & Support Officer, NewLife Project.
Garden Project
Working alongside Cardiff's Hamadryad Centre, we are very excited about our 'Garden Makeover' Project. We have a great resource in the Workshop garden, but it is in need of some tender, loving care.
Our volunteers, alongside those from the Hamadryad Centre are going to be re-designing and clearing the garden over the coming months. It is hoped that this will be an on-going project which volunteers and users of the Workshop will want to get involved with.
If you would like to help with this exciting project, we are currently looking for any old/new garden equipment and even plants or cuttings from local gardens - everything is welcome!
Our volunteers, alongside those from the Hamadryad Centre are going to be re-designing and clearing the garden over the coming months. It is hoped that this will be an on-going project which volunteers and users of the Workshop will want to get involved with.
If you would like to help with this exciting project, we are currently looking for any old/new garden equipment and even plants or cuttings from local gardens - everything is welcome!
Welcome to our Workshop Volunteers
In July 2008, 5 volunteers completed a 3-day course, Valuing Volunteering, designed to introduce women who have or have had mental health issues to some of the skills needed to volunteer at the Workshop. We wanted to give some of them the opportunity to introduce themselves:
Julie is 49 and lives in Grangetown: "I came to the Workshop in April this year to help me recover from a nervous breakdown - I learned new skills, met new people and found the staff at the Workshop greatly supportive when I really needed it! I have just completed the Valuing Volunteering course and wish to contribute to the Workshop any way I can in return for the help and support they have given me."
Peggy first came to the Women's Workshop in 2007 to do the Value Learning course. "The course consisted of confidence building, healthy living and nutrition, creative writing and general knowledge. Getting to the course was challenging in itself because of my health problems, I am also agoraphobic and being out of the house on my own was not easy, but in time I got to know the tutors and other learners. The fact that the Workshop is a women-only environment helped and I did eventually settle down and felt safe there. All I can say is the staff are amazing. The course was challenging, informative and fun. I truly benefited from doing this course and encourage all women, especially those with mental health issues, to take up a course at the Workshop. I came back last month and did another short course and now I'm so proud to be accepted back at the Women's Workshop as a volunteer. I look forward to this new chapter in my life."
"My name is Rosie. I am mum to a 5 year old boy called Justin. I did some volunteering for Women Connect First and in one of their events I found out about the Women's Workshop and picked up details about their facilities. They have flexible courses that could support me and improve my skills, such as DIY, Health & Fitness, IT and ESOL, plus there are free gym facilities. The Women's Workshop supports you both mentally and physically. It is welcoming to all women who need support. The Workshop has given me a lot and I want to give back to them."
Lisa came to the Workshop 3 years ago following her recovery from severe depression and drug abuse. "I took part in a Confidence Building course and I learned that I am a confident and assertive person, I enjoyed the course so much that I have been back on a number of occasions and am now a volunteer for the Women's Workshop. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff at the Workshop I would never have made it without their help."
We would like to thank all the volunteers for their time and we look forward to working with them.
Julie is 49 and lives in Grangetown: "I came to the Workshop in April this year to help me recover from a nervous breakdown - I learned new skills, met new people and found the staff at the Workshop greatly supportive when I really needed it! I have just completed the Valuing Volunteering course and wish to contribute to the Workshop any way I can in return for the help and support they have given me."
Peggy first came to the Women's Workshop in 2007 to do the Value Learning course. "The course consisted of confidence building, healthy living and nutrition, creative writing and general knowledge. Getting to the course was challenging in itself because of my health problems, I am also agoraphobic and being out of the house on my own was not easy, but in time I got to know the tutors and other learners. The fact that the Workshop is a women-only environment helped and I did eventually settle down and felt safe there. All I can say is the staff are amazing. The course was challenging, informative and fun. I truly benefited from doing this course and encourage all women, especially those with mental health issues, to take up a course at the Workshop. I came back last month and did another short course and now I'm so proud to be accepted back at the Women's Workshop as a volunteer. I look forward to this new chapter in my life."
"My name is Rosie. I am mum to a 5 year old boy called Justin. I did some volunteering for Women Connect First and in one of their events I found out about the Women's Workshop and picked up details about their facilities. They have flexible courses that could support me and improve my skills, such as DIY, Health & Fitness, IT and ESOL, plus there are free gym facilities. The Women's Workshop supports you both mentally and physically. It is welcoming to all women who need support. The Workshop has given me a lot and I want to give back to them."
Lisa came to the Workshop 3 years ago following her recovery from severe depression and drug abuse. "I took part in a Confidence Building course and I learned that I am a confident and assertive person, I enjoyed the course so much that I have been back on a number of occasions and am now a volunteer for the Women's Workshop. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff at the Workshop I would never have made it without their help."
We would like to thank all the volunteers for their time and we look forward to working with them.
Women Get Fit Certificate Ceremony, July 2008
The first Certificate Presentation for the Women Get Fit Big Lottery funded Project was held on 10th July 2008. It gave us all a chance to celebrate the achievements of the women who attended the learning programme.
Many of the women brought food from their own culture to share with us, work completed on the project was displayed and one of the women entertained us with an enjoyable acoustic music set.
Sandra Taylor, a member of the Workshop's Management Committee was kind enough to help with presenting certificates. Her speech was inspirational and especially relevant as she was a trainee on the very first course run by the Women's Workshop in 1984!
As the Outreach Support Officer for the Women Get Fit Project, it gave me great pride and pleasure to share this occasion with the women.
This learning programme is a great way to build confidence and at the same time, learn new skills. The project also gives women the opportunity to undertake informal learning and to try a variety of modules. These include Health & Fitness, DIY, ESOL & Fun with Figures. A number of fun taster sessions will be added to the learning programme next term.
Thanks to all who came along to make it a successful and enjoyable day.
Sadie Hayes, Women Get Fit Outreach & Support Officer
Many of the women brought food from their own culture to share with us, work completed on the project was displayed and one of the women entertained us with an enjoyable acoustic music set.
Sandra Taylor, a member of the Workshop's Management Committee was kind enough to help with presenting certificates. Her speech was inspirational and especially relevant as she was a trainee on the very first course run by the Women's Workshop in 1984!
As the Outreach Support Officer for the Women Get Fit Project, it gave me great pride and pleasure to share this occasion with the women.
This learning programme is a great way to build confidence and at the same time, learn new skills. The project also gives women the opportunity to undertake informal learning and to try a variety of modules. These include Health & Fitness, DIY, ESOL & Fun with Figures. A number of fun taster sessions will be added to the learning programme next term.
Thanks to all who came along to make it a successful and enjoyable day.
Sadie Hayes, Women Get Fit Outreach & Support Officer
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