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Congratulations to founder member Maeve O'Grady on her graduation as Doctor of Education from the University of Sheffield in January 2013 Read more ONE BILLION RISING - 'Break the Chain' FLASHMOB!! We Rose! We Danced! and the Sun Shone! on Thursday 14th February at 1.00 in John Robert Square, Waterford, ... Read more Congratulations to Cllr Dee Jacques Read more Fetac Certification 2013 Read more Celebrating International Women's Day 2013 Read more Events organised by the Women's Centre for International Women's Day 2013 Read more International Women's Day 2013 Read more The Women's Centre goes National Read more Childcare Centre Leaflet Read more Parents Handbook Read more

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it is often those who have themselves emerged from suffering and oppression who are most capable of making a new road to the future.
- A. Hope and S. Timmel (1995)

Waterford Women's Centre

September 2011

The Centre

The Waterford Women's Centre (ACCESS 2000) is a community development project and is part of the National Collective of Community Women's Networks (NCCWN). It has a long history of working with women who experience social, cultural, educational and economic disadvantage. Established in 1995 as a two county project (Wexford and Waterford ). The Women's Centre at 74-76, Manor Street , Waterford was opened in 2001 and offers the following to women in the Waterford area:

The Mission

"Recognising the isolation, exclusion and marginalisation experienced by women, the Waterford Women's Centre promotes, encourages and supports women's development, through the provision of community education, training and supports, enabling and empowering women to create and participate in a more inclusive society".

- "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

Background

The Waterford Women’s Centre was established by women for women in 1995 as ACCESS 2000. The organisation has grown from the ground up and was developed through a need that was identified when women’s groups from Waterford and Wexford came together in order to get qualifications for women community activists from the region. The Women’s Centre has always had a strong group of volunteers directing, managing and steering the work. The commitment and passion that is always present is inspirational. Equality is at the heart of the work and permeates throughout all areas alike.

Voluntary Management Committee

From its inception the Waterford Women’s Centre developed a model of participative management and decision-making which has been reviewed and developed on an ongoing basis since 1995. It ensures that women who participate in all areas of the project are involved in the entire decision making. There continues to be a mix of experienced members some of whom have been involved since 1995 and new members who are current participants. The management structure is made up of a number of working groups, which feed into the central core group. Equality and empowerment are its key principles.

How We Work

The Waterford Women’s Centre, through the implementation of its outreach strategy, engages and works with women living in Waterford City and surrounding areas who experience social, cultural, educational and economic disadvantage. The Centre supports women through community development, community education, information and support, enabling and empowering them to create and participate in a more equal and inclusive society.

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Community Education Groups

Community Education Groups
The Womens Centre's initial work with groups is concerned with creating a safe and trusting environment. The environment that is created ensures that the participants feel safe and equal at all times. This facilitates learning, confidence building and the building of self-esteem. This in turn results in increased personal and social awareness.

- "It is important that the facilitators and outreach workers are women who the groups
can identify with. We engage with the women from the beginning and

Time for Me

Time for Me

Tramore Women's Group

This group began as a result of the county Waterford Social Inclusion Working Group who identified the need for capacity building work with women in Tramore, County Waterford. Funding for this work was mobilised through a combination of measures from the various groups involved in SIWG. The Women Centre was invited to outreach to this community in order to develop a women's group. This group began February 2004. 14 women still participate in this group and have developed a vision for sustaining this work in their own community.

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African Women's Forum

The African women’s Forum was established in 2004 through a cultural awareness project. It aims to empower African women living in Waterford by:

Providing a space to meet together
Celebrating African culture
Identifying issues that affect African women’s lives and ways to address them
Representing the issues of African women in Waterford at a local regional and national level