3.1 pathways to change dundee international women's centre

Dundee International

Women’s Centre

Public Sector Improvement Conference

Pervin Ahmad- Executive Officer

Dundee International Women’s Centre (DIWC) Mission Statement:

To address the needs of women, with an emphasis on those from black and ethnic minority communities; to promote and create opportunities for women's social, political and economic inclusion and for the advancement of education and employment.

DIWC was established in 1969 as part of an Urban Aid Programme.

DIWC’s previous premises- 3 bedroom ground floor flat in Lyon Street, Dundee

DIWC started as part of the YWCA then separated in 2004

Moved to Manhattan Works in 2006 to a purpose built community centre

The Centre today...

Why do women come to the centre?‘Women Only’

We work with women with sometimes complicated cultural/religious/gender issues, where being ‘Women only’ is crucial

‘Culturally/Religiously Sensitive’ We work with women who may feel uncomfortable, not understood and

scared to interact with mainstream community orgs/services

‘Community Trust’Our biggest strength is the trust local ethnic and immigrant communities

have in us

Quotes from Members: ‘a safe place to meet’ ‘I was very lonely before I first came here’ ‘I felt very isolated when I came to Dundee

(DIWC) helped my confidence’

Statistics on the women we have worked with in 2010

How DIWC Services developed...

Classes- informal and qualifications Recreational activities Social Groups- over 50’s, youth group,

mums group


Volunteering programme Student and work placement support


Translation/ Interpretation Information and advice service Advocacy and One to one

support in a wide range of issues including, financial struggles, domestic violence, forced marriage, mental ill health


Employment training and support Social enterprise Childcare service Social enterprise catering services

Social Enterprise...

Create training which can skill

beneficiaries into employment

Create a business which can employ beneficiaries and

create a profit

Social Aim

Enterprise

DIWC’s Social Enterprises

3.1 pathways to change dundee international women's centre

Documents

Transcript of 3.1 pathways to change dundee international women's centre