Funded Projects
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Pink Ladies, Midlothian
Our grant provided training and tutors for workshops held in a safe environment aimed at vulnerable Midlothian women. This project is such a success that there is now a waiting list for membership to the group.
Two recently widowed ladies felt deflated and isolated at the beginning of the project. By the end of the project they expressed that they acquired new interests due to the range of workshops on offer at the group. These ladies are now active and valued members of the group and feel their lives are finally back on track.
Muslim Women’s Association of Edinburgh
Our grant supported a multicultural fashion show enabling women from various cultures to display and inform people of their traditional dress.
Alisha, 23, co-ordinated the fashion show from start to finish, including organising the clothes, models, music and the lists of sequences: “I had not done anything like this before and I’m now very confident that I will be able to arrange more events in the future.”
Renfrewshire Women’s Association (RWA)
Our grant helped organizers run a local workshop event in Paisley Town Hall to raise awareness across Renfrewshire of the sensitive issues surrounding gender violence.
One woman who attended gives her account of how the workshops and conference have helped her move forward with her life, including becoming a member of the RWA: “I feel fortunate that I have had the opportunity to receive support to help me move forward with my life. RWA and the work that they do every year inspire me and many other women. I have recently become a member of RWA and will be part of the planning group for the next conference, allowing me to further develop my skills as part of a creative team and continue to promote awareness of a very important cause close to my heart.”
Acharacle Community Company
Our grant supported training sessions for women to develop their IT skills to increase their employability.
Heather Findlay: “For the last year I have been attending a computer course in my village of Acharacle, which has been of much benefit to me…being able to ask for help makes such a difference. I am most grateful for this opportunity to learn this new language of computers. I thank you.”
Elaine Mac Gillivray: “I have been attending a computer training course once a week in Acharacle and it has been very beneficial as I have not much computer experience before I started coming here. This will help me in the future when I get my own computer.”
Catherine Cameron: “I have never used a computer before but since coming here I have learned a lot of things. I can now write letters, email my friends and go on the internet. It’s all very interesting, gets me out of the house and I meet other people at the lesson.”
The Hidden Gardens Trust
Our grant supported the running costs of a Mother and Toddler Group
Of the 33 who attended regularly 45% were BME. One of these regular BME attendees was Samina, a local mum with triplets who was finding it difficult to meet new people having just recently moved to the city and then falling pregnant. She documents that after being told about the group by her health visitor: “the group has actually stopped [her] going stir crazy…[she] cannot emphasise how important the play group has become in [her] daily life. It has broken up the monotony of just being with [her] children 24/7 and has basically allowed her to have a normal ‘ADULT’ conversation once a week”.
Partick Community Association, The Annexe
Our grant was applied towards the cost of an International Women’s Day (IWD) event.
Tracy Galloway was one of the women who went along to the IWD event and enjoyed an Indian head massage as one of the activities on offer that day. After enjoying it so much she decided she would like to learn the skill for herself in order to pass its relaxing benefits on to family and friends. Since doing so, Tracy herself has actually volunteered in the Annexe as a therapist and has also got some paid work. She also volunteers as co-ordinator for the therapists/trainees and has joined ‘Annexe Health Farm’ committee to drive things forward.
Scottish Ethnic Minority Sports Association (SEMSA)
Our grant supported the cost of a sport and exercise programme to encourage participation in sport and physical activity at all levels for young BME women aged 17-24.
A young 16 year old women, Donya, originally from Iran moved to Scotland at the age of 9 and could not speak any language other than her mother tongue, Farsi. Whilst she entered mainstream schooling and began to learn English she still finds it challenging to communicate in English. Since being involved with SEMSA she has broaden her skills, received first aid training and completed a jog leader course. Her next step is to facilitate a jogging network. Donya, 16: “Through the vehicle of sport I have increased confidence levels, self esteem, developed new skills and had the opportunity to make new friends.”
North Ayrshire Forum on Disability
Our grant helped employ a part-time learning support worker for DAWN (Disabled Women’s Network) for one year.
The DAWN Group is for women with disabilities and female carers who have family members with disabilities. Ann came along to the DAWN meeting as a carer. At times Ann has felt isolated, vulnerable and stressed. Ann now loves and looks forward to the DAWN meetings as she has met new people who listen and share experiences. Ann: “DAWN has given me a new lease of life and I feel I have made some very supportive friendships.”
Vision for Leith
Our grant supported the organization of a local International Women’s Day (IWD) event for the women of Leith and surrounding areas to celebrate diversity and unity whilst promoting positive mental health and well-being.
An elderly Sikh woman recently lost her husband and isolated herself within her home since then. Members of her family were involved in the IWD event and so she came along to assist in looking after her granddaughters. She was convinced to try a couple of alternative therapies and encouraged to take her granddaughters to some of the activities. By the end of the day she had a really happy experience with her daughters and granddaughters. The family acknowledged that this was the first time their mother had partaken in any social event since the death of her husband.
Kirkcaldy and District Trades Union Council
Our grant covered the costs of holding an annual International Women’s Day event with a focus on health.
Ruth attended the event on her own and was impressed by how friendly an atmosphere there was on the day. Ruth: “Women came in groups but were ready to talk to others outside their groups”. Whilst Ruth enjoyed the whole day, the “two speakers who stood out for her were Professor Susan Pollock who spoke about the danger of NHS privatisation and Denise from the fire brigade who described life as a female fire fighter in a male dominated profession. Both women made me feel proud and uplifted by being a woman.”
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