Support and Action for Women's Network (SAWN) support Black African women in our community to help them thrive and become independent and confident individuals.
Our idea was to use the funding to employ and train x 2 part-time workers- One worker is to continue and support growing demand for our services and the second role is to support a position to facilitate activities in our new eco centre at Grassroots community growing Hub in Failsworth, to explore women’s wellbeing in open spaces and nature.
Our approach is one of engagement and empowerment, supporting women to make changes themselves. Meaningful engagement enables positive intervention to take place and desired outcomes to be achieved. Giving opportunities for vulnerable women without access to services to meet, make friends, seek guidance, access advocacy support, learn skills, support each other and themselves in a supportive informal environment. providing a way in which isolated women can support each other and develop greater self – esteem, become less isolated, more active and physically and emotionally healthy. We provided a variety of weekly sessions with an average of 30 women attending different sessions.
SAWN continues to care deeply and passionately about the women and their families who come through our door. We are proud to be an organisation that continues to change the lives of the women we support and seek out partners to support SAWN women through accessing appropriate funding recognising this is an essential element of the work we do.
SAWN is proud and grateful to be able to offer a diverse range of support networks via the projects to women recognising marginalised Black African women are often more affected by barriers including language barriers, poor health, isolation, poverty, lack of opportunities.
All the projects/activities have impacted positively on women’s emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing, the majority of women have been involved in all aspects of the project delivery. Positive changes and the impact on women accessing the project included:
- Emotional wellbeing improved leading to better mental health *
- Physical wellbeing improved leading to better general health Improving lifestyles e.g. healthy eating
- Social circle of friends built, leading to an increase in gaining new friendships from their own and wider community, reducing levels of social isolation
- Raised awareness and attendance of community activities and events
- Increased opportunity to access further education and employment opportunities, self employment/business opportunities
- Increased confidence, self-esteem and personal resilience
- Improved knowledge, skills and experience
- Improving women’s confidence in accessing services and with their personal confidence
- Created a network of peer-led mutual support
We have been able to continue and facilitate ongoing weekly activities which include:
- SARATI weekly peer support group
- Choir
- Creative Writing
- Arts Therapy
- Wellbeing Workshops
- 1-1 support
- Providing Emergency grants
- Language Support Whilst introducing new activities which include
- Podcast training,
- Cancer support group,
- DV peer mentoring and peer support group
- Agatha’s Space HIV peer support group
- Organic gardening
- Seed saving *
- System Changers Forum
We have delivered bespoke training sessions which included teaching organic, no dig gardening and engaging with communities to gain skills and knowledge to apply at the project and in their own spaces. Weekly Horticultural Activities/ Sessions included:
- Compost effectively to reduce waste going to landfill
- Making organic fertilisers
- Propagate through cuttings and division
- Fruit tree pruning & grafting
- Creating dead hedges for wildlife habitats
We received excellent support from start to finish with the grants process. We know to pick up the phone if we have any issues or problems and Action Together staff are always at hand to support us and help resolve any issues that may arise. As a direct result of the grant funding from The One Oldham Fund and Action Together this has enabled SAWN to flourish and thrive and grow as an organisation, we have developed our services and expanded our reach.