Greenwich Community Network

31 Thomas Street Woolwich London SE18 6HU

020 8921 6487

Women

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Rose Waites is keen to ensure that issues particular to women are taken into account and acted on at a strategic and service delivery level.

So Rose, how did you become involved with the Network?

Her Centre, formerly Greenwich Women's Centre, has been providing client led services to local women since 1997. I was appointed Director in October 2003 and in this role, I represent Her Centre and local women at Greenwich Community Network meetings.

Her Centre "works with women to brighten their lives".

What are your main interests in your work?

Her Centre promotes and advances its innovative work, bringing a range of inspiring workshops, experiences and services into the Borough.

These services are determined by local women, to meet the needs of local people. By informing women of their options, via one to one sessions, advice sessions, workshops or signposting, Her Centre helps to build confidence and self-esteem thereby empowering our clients to make their own choices enabling them to determine their own futures, some for the first time in their lives.

This year, not only have we embraced our new image and developed our work into new areas, we have faced some very challenging times with the negotiation of a lease renewal in Woolwich and our extension into another part of the Borough with a new office in The Forum, Greenwich, enabling us to reach out to more women and also to accommodate those with access needs.

The friendly ambience and vibrancy of Her Centre staff as they work with clients, some of whom have exceptionally high support needs, is an inspiration. This vibrancy extends beyond the front line to behind the scenes to those who run the business side of things, who are often hidden away but without them, Her Centre could not exist.

What groups are you involved in and what committees do you sit on?

Committees Her Centre represents

Recent work partners

Funding Partners

What are some of the highlights of your work so far?

Her Centre is the only local provider of ongoing support groups for domestic violence and soon will be the sole provider locally to offer group work to survivors of childhood sexual abuse. This service is expanding as our reputation and the wait-list grow. The survivor group contributed in consultation, to the definition of the LGB Domestic Violence Strategy. The Women's Resource Centre made a film called Why Women and Her Centre staff and our DVSG members took part. We work in close partnership with The Woman's Trust and Greenwich Women's Aid to improve local provision for women, especially around domestic violence, and we have now appointed our own Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (funded by City Parochial).

Our training in Confidence Building is still in great demand both from individuals at the centre and by organisations such as Sure-Start, who commissioned us to design and deliver for them. We exceeded our outcomes when delivering a large and varied programme of courses and seminars in positive Parenting Skills, for the Parenting Fund. This training has been documented into a Manual which will be distributed to organisations and agencies as a local legacy. Her Centre staff are qualified to deliver Speakeasy training, and we are now in partnership negotiations with the Teenage Pregnancy Unit, to become the focus locally for accredited trainer training as well.

We are applying for funds to increase our attention to young people, especially to mentor Teenage Parents who are known to be particularly vulnerable to domestic violence and who may have other childhood issues.

Her Centre has evolved a strong tradition of seeking funds to provide all users with the services they request — we reflect the needs of our users. What do Women Want questionnaires, quality control and consultation are routine here, and inform not only our fundraising strategy but everything we do.

What are you looking to get involved with in the future?

Our vision is of a holistic centre, for women, which is thriving, creative, independent, financially sound, and integrated with all communities.

Visits made to the centre have quadrupled, many women coming in for much needed advice, returning several times for further support, discussions, trips, to attend group work and training for special needs and personal development in order to expand and move on to better things.

The staff have developed their skills over many years and locally Her Centre has an enviable reputation. Our profile and credibility have increased over these last few years of service expansion, especially in advocacy, support, group work and training. Demand is also high for our expertise, in terms of capacity build support, office procedures, systems, specialist group work facilitation, training design and delivery and consultation for local and national organisations.

The future, as with all in the Voluntary Sector, depends on obtaining appropriate funding to maintain responsive quality services, and developing an expert team to deliver those services.

We have secured core funding for the year 06-07. We have yet to apply for three-year LBG funding in October in open competition for LBG commissions, as we do for other streams of income.

Our funding strategy includes seeking funds for a new post in middle management and a volunteer co-ordinator to increase internal capacity and expand core service delivery, and manage the necessary changes Her Centre must undergo to become a sustainable and viable charity enterprise.

And finally Rose, what role do you feel the networks can play in Greenwich?

Networks bring together understanding of client needs with possible funding opportunities and partnerships. It promotes services, shares expertise and information, and enables diverse organisations to learn about each other, understand the difficulties we face and the work we want to do.