With Women became a CIC on 13/09/2024. It is a not for profit organisation that offers structured peer support to improve wellbeing, and reduce isolation and disconnection within our local community. The organisation is run by volunteers that campaigns for and creates opportunities for women and marginalised groups. This includes women experiencing loneliness, social isolation, those with additional needs and survivors of domestic abuse. During this reporting period, With Women CIC has established a dedicated community hub to increase accessibility for emotional support and reduced barriers to community and social engagement. The hub provides a safe, welcoming and supportive environment, where we have delivered weekly peer support sessions for women who do not attend formal services. This has improved emotional and physical health through preventative wellbeing activities, conversation and sharing experiences. Attendance of participants has continued to grow weekly. The number of women who attend the hub averages between 10 to 25 attendees. They have participated in the activities our organisation has delivered which consist of emotional support, discussing menopause, self defence classes, art therapy, breath work , confidence building, meditation, and holistic therapies. The women who attend have provided testimonials and verbal feedback confirming that they have formed therapeutic relationships, are more informed, and feel less alone and isolated since attending our sessions. Through collaboration with local authorities, and partnerships with other community groups and organisations we have also delivered educational workshops at the hub, focusing on preventative wellbeing interventions for increased safety. These sessions have focused on early intervention and prevention of risk for women and girls. This was delivered through educational programmes. They include self defence classes, and raising awareness about domestic abuse and how to find support for violence against women and girls. Other educational workshops include digital inclusion, practical first aid, fitness and menopause and nutritional support. During group discussions at the hub With Women CIC promote equality and inclusion and receive feedback about the challenging barriers that reduce participation in social and cultural life for women and girls in our local area. We discuss the impact this is having on the women in our community. With this feedback we can identify the need for development of services we can offer. This assists us with organisational planning and decision making to improve impact and reach. To encourage physical wellbeing our organisation has delivered weekly “ walk and talk” sessions. These sessions have promoted light, physical activity in a natural environment. The feedback we received from participants included women reporting they would feel anxious and unsafe walking alone. They informed our group that the walk and talk sessions had helped reduce feelings of anxiety, loneliness and disconnection from outdoor activities and given them confidence to start walking outdoors again. The number of participants attending these weekly sessions average between 5 and 15. We also offer weekly creative and expressive opportunities that help improve confidence, and maintain social interaction, through providing a weekly singing group in the evening. These sessions are delivered in a local business and trusted space. These sessions are taught by a professional musical teacher on a voluntary basis. On average 10 to 15 women and girls attend the singing group and report to us that it has improved their confidence and increased their ability to form new friendships. The organisation also provides an online community for women, which has significantly grown during this period to 2,400 members who provide ongoing peer support to one another and build supportive relationships. Supportive Information and signposting services are regularly provided too within this online space through collaboration with other organisations, local authorities and a voluntary administration team of 9. With Women CiC’s income has been generated through coffee mornings, community events and organised activities. The community events had on average 65 to 80 attendees. The events have not only provided a source of income, they have benefitted our community through bringing local businesses, community groups and organisations together. Our organisation has benefitted our community through reducing isolation, improving wellbeing providing information and education, raising awareness and increased community engagement. During the next reporting period With Women CIC will continue to deliver weekly peer support services and activities for the community. We will strengthen volunteer recruitment and increase reach through opening new chapters. This will increase positive outcomes for women and their families within our community. We will continue to measure community benefit and secure sustainability through partnerships, collaboration, and funding through grants.

We believe our stakeholders are volunteers, the women who attend the hub and coffee mornings, women experiencing loneliness, isolation, low confidence, or poor wellbeing. Local organisations, charities and community groups. Also, local businesses, local authorities and our online members. We consult with members of our online community through email, events, zoom, and our Facebook group. The administration team closely monitor to ensure the online community remains a safe and supportive environment. The use of this online space enables us to gather testimonials, further information and feedback to assist us with planning, decision making and identified needs. At the hub we maintain contact through having discussions and gathering feedback on where improvements in our services can be made to meet the needs of our stakeholders, and where suggestions are realistic and viable, we implement them as far as we can. From receiving information we have identified a growing need for support for women experiencing anxiety, loneliness, and lack of access to social activities in our community. Particularly for caregivers, single mothers and parents of children with special educational needs. In response to this we are exploring activities and partnerships to address this need and promote inclusion and expand community outreach.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration