| Supporting Irish women in London
for 25 years  LONDON
Irish Women’s Centre is gearing up for its 25th year as a support
network for Irish Women in London.
With four permanent staff and a counsellor the centre aims to offer any
help it can to Irish women in need of support.
Director Tisch Collins has great plans for the future work of the centre
and is already planning the celebrations for next year.
The mother-of-two said: “As a women’s centre we want to celebrate
how strong Irish women have been in London. We want to celebrate the tenacity
of the Irish woman and her experience here.
“In the early days we had more of a political culture which you
can find out about in our small library.
“But since then we’ve developed and introduced our advice
work and now we’re more about counselling and support.”
For the time being though the centre is focusing on what it can do to
support women now. And with that in mind, it is starting group workshops
to enable women to talk about all aspects of their lives in the comfort
and confidence of a women- only centre.
Working groups that are planned for the coming weeks include coffee mornings,
book groups, knitting groups, healthy eating and reminiscence work.
Its usual services — information, advice, advocacy and counselling
continue to be available to all Irish women in London.
Mrs Collins said: “In theory we can help with any problem or query
any woman has. And we want to be accessible to all women.”
A celebration of the centre’s 25th anniversary next year is planned
for March 14, 2008 at City Hall which will be followed by an all-day-conference
with Irish President Mary McAleese the former honorary president of the
centre.
The conference will focus on the contrasting experiences of women from
Traveller women, homeless women, to settled immigrant women and will aim
to develop the self-confidence of the women speakers and audience.
n If you would like to attend the Wednesday coffee mornings and you would
like to get advice from the centre on how you can take part in the group
work-shops contact Caroline Buckley on 020 7249 7318. |
