MenuWomen’s Workshop – our Offer to Women in North Northumberland this Spring
Since late March the Women’s Workshop team has been looking at new ways for continuing to be there for local women and to offer access to a programme of workshops and peer support while we can’t easily meet up. So here it is….
Individual support
Practical and Emotional Support
Thanks to the Smallwood Trust, we can offer both practical and emotional support to any woman at this stressful time.
We are here and available, by phone or online through chat, email or video link. You can contact Julia on 07775 817544 or info@womensworkshop.net and she will keep in touch, or pass you on to another experienced, qualified member of the team. We can particularly support any woman feeling trapped in an unacceptable situation at home, women struggling with finances, and women who are carers or parents who need some support.
Our Women First project means we can also offer one-to-one support to any woman who is not currently in paid work. We can offer advice and support for getting into work or business and can help you access extra funds that are available at the moment. Email or ring to find out more.
Activities
Five Ways to Wellbeing
Women’s Workshop has gone virtual, and we have launched a new daily programme, based on the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing.‘ Each day features a different element of the five ways approach to helping us build our mental health – Mondays Connect, Tuesdays Be Active, Wednesdays Learn, Thursdays Take Notice and Fridays Give.
This daily virtual programme has been put together from ideas and suggestions from our amazing team of staff, volunteers and associates who are sharing their skills in new ways. You can visit all of the activities and ideas that have been posted so far on our Events page – just click on any day in the calendar, whether it’s in the past or the future, to see what’s on offer. Or you can visit our Facebook page to see the latest ideas.
Staying Connected Quilt project
In particular we would love you to take part in our idea for staying connected by taking part in our Quilting project – creating hexagons at home from any available material which we will eventually sew together into a quilt or wall hanging to celebrate our connectedness with each other. You can find out more here
Useful links and information
Each day we are also offering all kinds of ideas and links to information, workshops and sessions that can be found elsewhere online. We’re also pleased to be sharing this project with Riverside Community Health Project so our members can tap into their daily programme too…
Projects
In June we will be launching two new projects and we are looking for women who would like to join:
- Mindful Mondays, a therapeutic space based around peer support and outdoor and practical activities.
- Rural Women’s Voices, a video-based project where we will explore the issues that matter to us and other rural women and share them widely online.
We hope that some of these activities will be run as actual (if socially distanced) group sessions. If we have to continue to run without meeting up, there will be lots of opportunities to get together online. Please let us know if you are interested in getting involved.
Groups
As well as the project groups, we will be hosting online group sessions for anyone who would like to join in:
Mindful Mondays Online 1-2pm each Monday starting on May 11th on Zoom, for anyone signed up to any of our projects who would like to check in with other women
SpLinter Sisters 7- 8pm each Monday on House Party or Zoom – a group for young women who face extra challenges, using chat, games and online resources to stay in touch and explore feelings.
Training
Peer Mentoring Skills – a Level 2 qualification for women who want to build on their good listening skills or are interested in a career supporting others…we will be running sessions online, starting late May, and you will be able to continue your learning with your own workbook including practical mentoring activities, and supported by a learning mentor. If you’d like to sign up you can register here
Introduction to Careers in the Services Sector – before Covid19 happened we were developing our Cleaning Collective, offering women training, work experience and some paid work in the cleaning and housekeeping industry. Our idea was to provide a women-friendly approach, a relief service to other cleaning agencies, and a new way of working where every woman who gets involved in the collective is paid the same and shares all the roles associated with setting up a business. We will be running some online training sessions during June and July and hope to be able to re-start the work experience programme by then too. If you’re interested in finding out more email info@womensworkshop.net
Staying in touch with issues for Women
Finally, your next email round-up will be in a new smart format, and will list news and events of interest to women around the area. When you receive the first one you’ll have the chance to decide whether to stay subscribed, and to suggest or send any items that you would like to be included. In the meantime, if you’re interested in topical issues facing women, you can also subscribe to the NE Women’s Network e-bulletin here.
Please email us if you’re interested in ANY of these opportunities, and tell us how you’re doing too – we would love to hear from you!