Looking Back at April & May…
OUR EASTER CRAFT DAY!
We christened the brand new FWIN HQ with its first ever event - and what a way to do it!
We welcomed women from across the district for a relaxed and cosy morning of Easter-themed crafts. With plenty of cups of tea and hot cross buns, the conversation was flowing and the craic was 90!
The ladies had the opportunity to make a selection of crafts from flower baskets to Easter cards and bonnets.
Then, we wrapped up with some delicious soup and wheaten bread from The Sandwich Co.
We'd like to thank all of the women who joined us today and helped us christen the new space.
We'd also like to thank our wonderful facilitators from Galliagh Women's Group, Charlotte Gormley, and Hayley Doman. A big thanks to our staff and board members who kept the event running smoothly, and the tea topped!
This event was made possible thanks to funding from The Community Fund.
MEET JANEY!
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.”
Janey is the newest member of the FWIN Family, stepping into the role of the Women's ReconciliNation Project (WRP) Training Officer (but more on that later!)
Janey has a lifelong career facilitating and empowering individuals to achieve their goals in life, across an array of disciplines from leadership in business to sports and
everything in between. With a BA Hons Degree in outdoor education, she has travelled the world sharing her grá (love)
and passion for sports, facilitation and inclusion across the map.
When not delivering high energy, kick-ass projects, she enjoys ultra running, the beach and baking. She is a National Panel Referee for The Camóige association, and also a Referee for the LGFA and the GAA.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 6 WEEKS: NO PASSPORT REQUIRED!
The first destination on our trip around the world is America! Our intern Sydney, who is visiting Northern Ireland as part of her university studies, took us on a tour of her home state, Oklahoma.
Sydney introduced us to life in Oklahoma, where we got to experience everything from football games and marching bands, to different foods and living in tornado alley! Sydney also made us some cream soda floats to enjoy which the ladies loved!
The second stop on our tour was Thailand! We were joined by Thai Arts & Cooking NI who gave the ladies a glimpse into Thai culture and created some beautiful fan painting and sand mandalas together.
We have also visited the Philippines, Mauritius, India, and Ukraine. We got to sample different foods, listen to beautiful music, and even learn a dance or some of the language. This 6-week Around The World project has been a fantastic opportunity to experience life somewhere else through a local woman’s eyes, all without leaving the city!
We’d like to thank all of the wonderful women who agreed to share a part of their home with us, and our funders The Department of Foreign Affairs for helping us make this happen.
We look forward to running a similar project again soon!
DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND!
After all the chaos of moving, we decided to slow things down with the Getting Together Club by working on some diamond art sun catchers.
Initially, this activity was met with some resistance. Some of the women felt like they had too much on their mind to be able to focus on such a fiddly task.
But after making a cuppa, grabbing a bun, and a quick tutorial, the group got to work on these beautiful sun catchers.
Before long, the stories were flowing and the craic was 90 as we laughed and chatted away! Some women shared what was troubling them or what errands they were stressing about only to discover the joys of this group - we were all able to help each other out! From some sage advice, to an offer of a lift home...before long all of those wee worries had melted away!
By the end of it, everyone was commenting about how relaxed and uplifted they felt, just from a little bit of light-hearted crafting and conversation!
Our Getting Together Club is so much more than a coffee morning! It's an opportunity to get together and learn something new - whether that's from one of our guest speakers, or from each other.
Getting together to meet like-minded people and build our own little communities of support and companionship!
If you'd like to join us, just drop in from
10am - 12pm, every Wednesday!
THE BIG BINGO BASH!
Wow! What a night! We had the pleasure of hosting some of our lovely women for a great night of bingo and plenty of laughs!
We had a variety of prizes from self-care to home care so the stakes were high. We also raffled off some amazing prizes that had been kindly donated, including a voucher for an overnight stay at Benedicts of Belfast.
As much as we love a great night of bingo, we love bringing women from all walks of life together under one roof.
We'd like to thank all of the women who came along and took part, those who donated prizes, and the staff and volunteers who kept the night running smoothly (including Catherine's hilarious bingo calls!).
We'd also like to thank our funder The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland for helping us bring communities together.
If you're interested in taking part in our next bingo night, make sure you check out upcoming events because we have one planned that includes a visit from a Silver Fox!
Some seasoned pros helped some bingo beginners, and old friends welcomed in new faces.
Here's what our participants had to say:
"I made new friends"
"Met lovely people- good for concentration and needed out of house. Loved the bingo"
"Yes it was a good evening. Really enjoyed the bingo. Good craic with amazing women"
"Enjoyed the evening being out with friends"
LEARNING ABOUT THE PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN
The Getting Together Club had an amazing opportunity to speak to Jill and learn all about Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman - NIPSO and how it can help them!
The group heard how the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman investigates unresolved complaints about public bodies in Northern Ireland, without involving the courts. While NIPSO investigates most public bodies in Northern Ireland, the sectors they receive the most complaints about are health, housing, education, and central and local government.
Discussions like this show how important our Getting Together Club is. It's more than just a coffee morning, it is an opportunity to empower women with the information they need to live full and happy lives, while meeting like-minded women and building lasting friendships.
STAND STRONG! PERSONAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME
The 4-week personal protection programme with Peter and Mark from Lifestyle Combat was designed to give women the skills and confidence to stand up for themselves and deescalate conflict, but failing that the women also got comfortable using their voice to shout, and their body to safely protect themselves.
For many of us, we will never be in a situation where we can shout out or strike back, until it becomes a matter of life and death. So we wanted to create a safe and comfortable environment for these women to learn what they are physically capable of.
While the women came away with a newfound confidence and understanding of their capabilities, they also came away with new friendships and support networks to walk together in the evening or to share a lift home. It's these types of bonds that make us feel so grateful for being able to do what we do here at FWIN.
What the participants had to say:
"It has given me a confidence I didn't know I needed. I really enjoyed it and would have loved to continue for a few more weeks."
"Fabulous class! It was so well worth being a part of."
"Learning to defend myself when approached by someone was most helpful."
"I feel more confident and more in control!"
We'd like to thank Peter and Mark for all of their work, patience, and support with the women.
If you would be interested in taking part in our Stand Strong programme in the future, make sure you visit our website or our Facebook page to be the first to hear about upcoming programmes.
FEEL GOOD FRIDAY IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!
Feel Good Friday is back and it is jam-packed with Sound Bath & Breath Work, Chair Pilates, and Tai Chi. Each activity runs for 4 weeks at a time, giving women the opportunity to sample everything and see what they like best.
We kicked off with the first activity which was 4 weeks of Sound Bath & Breath Work. The ladies got to enjoy an hour of total relaxation as they were expertly guided through a cleansing breath work sequence, followed by a restoring sound bath.
These hour-long sessions gave the ladies the perfect break in their busy week, to catch their breath and regulate their nervous system.
Following these rejuvenating sessions, the ladies could help themselves to a selection of flavoured waters, herbal teas, and fresh cut fruit to really nourish themselves inside and out.
What our participants said:
"Yes amazing. The more I done it I was able to switch off."
"It was really relaxing and the breathing techniques I will practice more"
"This was just what I needed and delighted to have found this resource / group. I can’t wait to explore more and find out what else the group offers and promote to other women also."
The 4-week Chair Pilates block has just started and the ladies are already loving the gentle, restorative style of exercise that helps with balance, coordination and muscle strength.
We'd like to thank all of the ladies who have taken part in the programme so far, and to our wonderful facilitator Elaine, and Brenda who held such a beautiful space for these women, and a big thank you to our funder Civic Dollar who helped to make this all possible.
The Chair Pilates is fully booked, however if you are unable to attend, or you would like to join the cancellation list, please get in touch.
If you’re interested in taking part in our Tai Chi classes that begin on the 19th June, please give us a call on 02871 266291 as spaces are limited.
We hope you enjoyed looking back on a snippet of the fun we had in this month! You can always visit our Facebook page to see what else we’ve gotten up to! You can also join us on our adventures by visiting our events page to see what else we’ve got planned.
