In 2019 ICOS has started delivering a first ever Eastern European women’s group in the North East, the group was established to improve women’s wellbeing, skills and confidence but also to provide a safe and inclusive environment for women to meet and build new relationships through taking part in various activities and workshops (sports activities, wellbeing workshops such as mindfulness, arts and crafts, training, coffee meetings, activities for mums with children, trips, STEM, environmental and educational activities). Our aim is to support women to become community leaders and create a peer-to-peer support network through volunteering and taking part in various empowering activities. As a part of the project, we also offer one-to-one needs tailored support to women who experience issues such as financial problems, lack of opportunities, discrimination, domestic abuse, and we support women with safety planning and accessing services such as welfare benefits, housing and legal advice services. Due to the high need for this work, since January 2022 we have also started delivering these activities in Newcastle.
This project is currently funded by The Postcode Neighbourhood Trust in Sunderland and The Riddle Fund at Community Foundation Tyne and Wear & Northumberland in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Would you like to get regular updates about our Women’s group? Join our ICOS Women Facebook Page: HERE.
ICOS is working together with Sunderland University on a research into the experiences of women from Eastern and Central Europe. This research should help us to find out what their needs and problems are, so that we can provide better support to them. This research should also help to ensure that local agencies and organisations take their needs into account.
Read the Interim Report: Survey Findings HERE.
