Girls discuss mental health and its impact

A conference for girls aged 14 to 16 was held in Northampton yesterday. Organised by women's charity Platform 51, it gathered nearly 70 girls together from all over the city to discuss how low-level mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, can blight a girl's life and affect every area of her life as she becomes a woman. Many of the girls attending had no idea how serious - and how common - such problems are.

Jade Simon, a young woman who goes to Platform 51's centre in Northampton, spoke to the delegates about the things that had plunged her into depression: bullying, body image and low self-esteem. With the help of Platform 51 she now feels much better about herself and has learned ways of coping when she feels down.

Ronnie, Natasha  and Annie, volunteers from Platform 51, ran a workshop for the girls about self-harm, a common way for teenage girls to express depression and the loss of control of their lives. The volunteers explained and advised the girls about this misunderstood problem.

Girls who attended the conference were able to discuss the things that make them feel down, isolated or lonely such as isolation, body image and the pressure to look and behave in a certain way.

Bob Fletcher , principal social worker at Northamptonshire County Council, also lead a workshop on drugs, music and the teenage girl revolution.

Platform 51 offers services and support to teenage girls and young women from their women's centre in Castilian Terrace Northampton.

Who goes? What do they do?

People who haven't been been to a women's centre often don't understand what goes on.

In this new film the women and staff at Platform 51's centre in Bilston show what goes on and explain what happens, what they do, how it helps and what it means to them.

Women's choir sings for health

A women's community choir, Song birds, run by Platform 51 Nottingham gave a rousing performance to show off their new singing talents last week. A 100-strong audience heard the choir perform in a gallery at international arts venue the Nottingham Contemporary.

Get out, get active, get vocal

Funded by Nottingham City Council's sustainable communities fund, the choir was set up to help women from a range of ages and backgrounds - including those with mental health problems, learning disabilities, violent homes - get out, get active, get confident and get vocal.

Ten women took part on the day drawn from 16 women who made up the choir. "Singing with this choir has really boosted my confidence and has helped me start to conquer my anxiety," said one woman.

Nottingham City Transport generously provided bus passes so that the women taking part (some of who are homeless or unemployed) could easily get across town and take part.  "It's great to know that by providing our services free-of-charge, we've played a small part in a project that makes a big difference to the health and wellbeing of women in our local area" said Anthony Carver-Smith, Marketing Manager at Nottingham City Transport.

Seen and heard

Tracy Radford, Platform 51 Nottingham's manager, said: "Many of these women struggle with a lot of problems in their lives. Some came with their support workers to help them. Joining together to create something beautiful makes them feel so much better about themselves. They can be seen and heard at last!"

This choir member would agree: "Singing with this choir has been such a boost and clears my head. It has helped me find my voice again. This kind of initiative is so important for raising the spirits and giving a sense of wellbeing."

A breath of fresh air

Another women said: "Singing with this choir has been like a breath of fresh air. After years of battling with mental health problems and drugs and alcohol addiction, I have been in some horrible dark places. Every week this group has been friendly, supportive and positive which has brushed off in other areas of my life. Thank you. I hope we will be able to continue what we've started as it has been such a happy experience."

The benefits of the choir are clear to see - and hear! This initial project cost just £1,000 to run for 10 weeks. We are currently looking for more funds so we can continue to help women find their voice and feel better through song. Can you help?

Watch the Song birds' rendition of Down in the River to Pray on YouTube.

6pm, Friday 22 July, Nottingham Contemporary

Platform 51 would like to invite you to the final performance of our Women's Community Choir Challenge.

This exciting event will be held at Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Cross, NG1 2GB on Friday 22 July 2011.

Doors open at 6pm for drinks, with the performance commencing at 6.30 pm. The running time will be approximately 30 minutes.

Platform 51's Women's Community Choir Challenge is a new initiative based on our research and experience that singing can benefit mental health problems. Forming a choir has been a positive and exciting way to support our girls and women.

Many women don’t access activities that help them meet others, have fun and learn new skills. The choir project has provided these things and reduced the isolation that many girls and women face. The choir has had a positive effect on the women and they no longer feel intimidated or held back.

The group had very little singing experience when they started but over the last 10 weeks they have created a performance that is both inspiring and uplifting.

If you would like to attend the performance on 22 July please download and print out this invitation.

If you have any questions please contact Platform 51 Nottingham on 0115 934 84 56 or email Nottingham@platform51.org

Today Platform 51 is celebrating International Women's Day

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. Platform 51 couldn't let this event pass us by without celebrating. We have events happening in our centres up and down the country and we are getting involved in the national campaign EQUALS to call for a more equal world. If you have ever wondered what Platform 51 is all about then now is your opportunity to get involved and attend an event near you.

EQUALS

Platform 51 has joined a partnership of charities called EQUALS. EQUALS was brought together by Annie Lennox to celebrate the centenary of International Women's Day. Together we're stepping up the call for a more equal world. And we want you to join us.

8 March 2011

Women like us: Cornwall's International Women's Day conference
10:30am to 3:00pm Berlewen Building, Trevenson Road, Pool, Cornwall, TR15 3SE

Platform 51 Cornwall are running a conference that will focus on the findings of our report Women like me: supporting wellbeing in girls and women. The conference will give girls and women a platform to share their stories, tell us about their experiences and to find out what support they need.

To book a place contact: lindsay.anderson@platform51.org or call 01872 263112   

Doncaster's celebration day
Platform 51 Doncaster, 21 Cleveland Street, Doncaster, DN1 3EH

Platform 51 Doncaster will be celebrating International Women's Day with an open day at the centre focusing on positive mental health and resilience. We will be serving traditional asian food from our cafe and there will be a traditional thai dance demonstration.

This is an ideal opportunity to talk to staff and find out more about services available at Platform 51 Doncaster. If you would like more information please contact doncaster@platform51.org or call 01302 309800

10 March 2011

Plymouth open day
Platform 51 Plymouth, Alfred Street, The Hoe, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2RP

Platform 51 Plymouth are holding an open afternoon at the centre with a metal workshop and a cake making workshop.

For more information contact: plymouth@platform51.org or call 01752 671080

29 March 2011
 
Women like me: event to discuss health and wellbeing.
Platform 51 Warstones, Claverley Drive, Warstones, Wolverhampton, WV4 4QL

Our Bilston and Warstones centres are holding an event to discuss the research in our report: Women like me: supporting wellbeing in girls and women. If you are in the Wolverhampton area and would like to attend please download the invitation.

30 March 2011

Comedy night, Soho

More information coming soon ... watch this space!

Available From March 2011

Walking Home Film

Platform 51 Nottingham and Initi8 volunteers from Nottingham Trent University have created a new film dramatising women's experience of street harassment. Featuring the voices and experiences of real women.

For more information contact Gill Court at Platform 51 Nottingham: gill.court@platform51.org or call 07500 553 800

Jade: "I know what I need to do to achieve in life"

Our recent study revealed that 63% of women and girls have been affected by poor mental health such as stress, depression, low self-esteem or suicidal thoughts. So how do we help women feel better about themselves?

In Nottingham, Platform 51 staff are running Aspirations, a programme for 13- and 14-year-old girls who may be struggling at school and at risk of dropping out. They may feel that school is pointless and have lost faith in their abilities and can see no future for themselves.

The three month programme begins with an adventure activity such as abseiling. This helps the girls to build their confidence and trust in each other and means that as the course progresses the girls and more openly and honestly discuss the problems women face today such as assertiveness, relationships, sexual health, vocational aspirations and the media's portrayal of women.

Each subject is picked apart and examined, so they learn to understand how complex and connected each one is and how it affects them. Intervening early like this means the girls have a chance to act on what they've learned, get back on track, work hard at school and aspire to more.

The girls who complete this course end up with an accredited qualification. Tracy Radford, Platform 51 manager in Norttingham, says: "The girls have a much more positive feeling about school and the school sees them in a more positive light."

The girls are inspired by the programme. Jade said: "I know what I need to do to achieve in life." Libby said: "I learnt anybody can go to college."

YWCA Wolverhamton's young women don hard hats and get working

Young women from YWCA Wolverhampton tried their hand at building, carpentry and plumbing at the Women in Construction Day with Wolverhampton Homes.

The young women received training, spoke to other women working in construction and applied for employment and further training. Guest speaker Lynda Waltho MP gave a speech promoting the benefits of female representatives in the construction industry

One of the young women Jude Featherstone said: "I found the whole day really informative. I have an interest in plumbing so I was really excited to do the taster session. Today has given me the motivation and belief that I can learn a trade."

YWCA pop out for lunch with the Queen

It was a day of glamorous hats, tea and cucumber sandwiches for a young woman from YWCA Wolverhampton who attended the Queen's Garden Party yesterday. 

Jude Featherstone, accompanied by YWCA worker Becky Matthews, got the chance to stroll through the famous Garden of Buckingham Palace and to see members of the Royal Family at the party held annually by The Queen.

The Queen is patron of YWCA England & Wales, the charity working with young women from disadvantaged backgrounds. YWCA receives invitations every year for the Queen's Garden Party, which is distributed to its projects around England and Wales.

Jude said: "Even though it was a rainy day I had a great time anyway!"

Wolverhampton Homes hold women in construction event

Wolverhampton Homes has hosted a Women In Construction event day to encourage more women into a trade.

The organisation and its Decent Homes partners - Bullock, Frank Haslam Milan and Thomas Vale - organised taster sessions in painting and decorating, plumbing and carpentry.

Women from YWCA and local schools and colleges attended to try out a trade, talk to other women working in construction and to apply for apprentice opportunities.

Pat McFadden MP was also the guest speaker who gave his support to the day.

Shazad Ahmed, project skills co-ordinator from Wolverhampton Homes, said: "Many women came along to the event which was really successful, it was all about breaking down the stereotypes that construction is only for men.

"I know many people who attended also found it really useful to talk to women already in a trade and get their first hand knowledge and experience."

Rachel Symons, YWCA centre manager, said: "The young women really got involved in the day, getting stuck into tasks they never thought they would be doing and getting an insight into a job sector unfamiliar to most of them. It proves that career advice shouldn't always be steering young women into traditionally 'female' jobs, but should be showing the full spectrum of options available to them."