WAND UK » LIFELONG LEARNING

LIFELONG LEARNING

Aim of the service strand To enable women to become their own agents of change through access to informal, community-based education that supports them to build internal resources to deal with issues as they arise and reduce the incidence of future issues.

Services currently running

Young Girls Project

Project initiated October 2019 targeting disadvantaged girls aged 11-19 years. Focus group assessed girls’ needs and created programs to tackle needs. Currently, the age group has expanded to include girls aged 8-23 years for greater impact and benefits.
Aims of the Project
Our aim is to reach out to disadvantaged and vulnerable girls who are not accessing youth centers. The project aims to help them access a safe place where they can learn new skills, hang out with friends and make new ones.

The project also aims to emphasize the importance of self-empowerment and boosting young girls’ self-esteem and confidence.

Current and Future projects

Workshops on healthy eating and nutrition
Cyber-bulling sessions, internet safety
Yoga, dance
Healthy Relationships, Sexual Health
Up-cycling Christmas cards
Sexual harassment, under aged sexual relationships and consent

Because of covid-19 many of these girls had mental ill health and we have designed a program which will deliver services focusing on improving their health, physical and emotional wellbeing:

Inter-generational project
Life cycle
Befriending
Science Workshops
Gangs

Challenges in our communities
Bringing together girls from different backgrounds such as, culture, religion and beliefs can be extremely challenging.
Predominantly:
*Do not want their girls to be exposed to other cultures nor mixed with boys outside the home.
*Conflict between Traditional and British culture
*Girls torn between peer pressure in school and traditional values at home

Feedback

“Cyberbullying workshop made me understand how easy it is to offend someone without seeing that person in the face” (C,12 years old)

“I love meditation with Ilaria, it makes me so relaxed” (Jasmine, 10 years old)

“Yoga made me travel around the world and feel more concentrated” Rayhanna (6 years old)

Happy Healthy Family Club

VAWG telephone befriending and awareness raising through Happy Healthy Family Club and healthy relationships workshops

Digital literacy sessions

WAND UK E-LEARNING COURSES

COME AND JOIN US TO LEARN NEW SKILLS. WAND UK IS OFFERING ACCESS TO E-LEARNING CLASSES ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF OUR FRIENDLY TUTOR. YOU WILL ALSO LEARN HOW TO USE THE ROADS TO WELLBEING MAP TO FIND ACTIVITIES IN THE LOCAL AREA.

This is a great opportunity to socialise and learn at the same time!

COURSE SUBJECTS

PEDIATRIC FIRST AID
FOOD HYGIENE
EQUALITY & DIVERSITY
TIME MANAGEMENT
CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Computer Classes

(Due to Covid-19 we’re not able to offer new dates yet. We are working on providing these courses in the future again)

WAND would like to enhance women’s technological understanding by teaching them computer and software skills, to be able use the most popular applications and interactions.

Our aim is to improve women’s computer literacy skills, so that they are equipped to deal with the fast-moving, modern, digital world. With improved computer literacy skills, the women we have will bring their innovative ideas to the community.

The course is designed for people who have little or no experience in using computers. The purpose of the course is to introduce our women to the basic computing terms and features, to enable them to use a computer efficiently and safely.

To gain the IT basics on a computer, we will start from the very beginning and always support our women with our team of friendly tutors! Come and learn!

Sample Course curriculum:

Starting to Use a Computer
Using Windows, Programs and Software
Exploring the Internet
Using an E-mail
Roads to wellbeing(click on for more information)

Domestic Violence Support

We know that women across London are experiencing domestic abuse right now. Whatever form violence comes in, from rape and trafficking to relationships based on psychological or financial control, we work to end it. We all know escaping violence can be the hardest thing to ever do. WAND UK is working to build a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated.

We are here to support and encourage women not to suffer in silence!

“Domestic abuse is chronically underreported to service providers but British Crime Survey data suggest that one in four women and around one in six men will be affected in their lifetime.”

“As such domestic abuse constitutes a public health issue of pandemic proportions.”

Conventional definition

Being afraid of your partner
Living in constant threats of violence
Physical violence
Sexual violence
Financial abuse
Emotional abuse
Isolation
Loss of life

Who is affected?

Abusive relationships cross all social boundaries – ANYONE can be affected.(Men and women of all ages, Children, young people, people with and without disabilities, with and without mental health issues…)

What are the impacts of the victim?

It is now generally recognised that experiencing domestic violence and abuse is associated with mental health problems including anxiety and depression

WAND UK conducted research, with the support of the Refugee Council, among BAMER women, to understand the challenges these women face. It was understood that there are several barriers which hinder these women from talking about Domestic Violence or accessing services. These include:

Fear of stigma in the community
Letting the family down
Fear of Social services taking the children
Lack of Immigration status
Lack of knowledge of services
Lack of trust
Cultural differences.

This project aims to encourage positive communication within families and as a preventative measure help BAMER women and families to deal with family break down and domestic violence, managing family conflict. and building positive family relationships.

What services we offer:

We work in Domestic Violence- Building Positive Family Relationships, Mental Health, and Sexual Health providing training, education, information, advice, advocacy support, Outreach campaigns in communities on how to disclose suffering by accessing services and promoting access to services

We want to help women and young girls who affected Domestic Violence. We offer them Mental Health Support and Telephone Befriending for Domestic Violence.

We discuss Domestic Violence in our Happy Healthy Family Club and Young Girls Projects to broaden knowledge and understanding on this topic. Talking in these sessions may allow women and girls to open up to their own experience with domestic violence.

We support Domestic violence survivors in Refuges with 1 to 1 multilingual, multicultural emotional and practical support.

We help in building survivor’s confidence and raising self-esteem, to become agents for their own change, improving their quality of life and hence their families.

COVID -19 domestic abuse support services provision

We want to re-assure you that our services are still running in these challenging times. We are currently delivering our One to One service via phone.

We understand the additional challenges women are facing right now while in lockdown. If you already receive support from us this will continue. We are offering phone calls regularly to our service users and keeping a close eye on the issues that are arising, putting in place structures and processes to monitor the service we are providing.

If you are in immediate danger please call the Police on 999.

If you, or someone you know, is afraid or worried about domestic abuse, support is available, you can use our referral online system or contact us on Mobile: 0781 348 5607 or email info@wanduk.org. You can also contact us using the online form on the website click here.

Support our work:

It is vital that women who have been abused have access to mental health support for their emotional wellbeing. We provide our services for free, but as a charity we rely on donations and grants to fund our work.

Any support you could offer at this time would be massively appreciated

Useful links to other organisations:

Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline:

0808 2000 247
or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

(access live chat Mon-Fri 3-10 pm)

Holiday Activities and Food Programme

The programme provides free meals and activities to children in disadvantaged areas during school holidays.

It is targeted at school-aged children from reception to year 11 who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and is available during the Summer, Easter, and Christmas breaks