Platform 51 providing women with new and varied opportunities

Platform 51 have recently starting running the Women Volunteers for Health programme, that provides training and support to 400 women to become health volunteers in their own communities of St Helens, Doncaster, Nottingham and Wolverhampton. 

The women come from a wide age range and a variety of backgrounds.  The programme gives them: training to develop their skills and knowledge and a chance to obtain accreditations in volunteering and support to build their confidence and assertiveness and access to volunteering opportunities.  Once women are volunteering they provide mutual support to each other and stay in touch with Platform 51 for guidance and advice when needed. 

Marcia Banasko (pictured), Platform 51 Women Volunteers for Health worker, describes the first few months of delivering the programme in St Helens. 

"I am working with 16 women aged 19 to 55... The women have achieved so much in a few weeks.  They love having something to get out of the house for.  It has given them confidence, they have met  like -minded people and they have all achieved an accreditation. 

A lot of the women taking part have disengaged with education for some reason:  mental health problems, alcoholism or having a baby at a young age.  They have described to me the very negative experiences of education and they have no confidence in their own abilities.    We work to deal with these underlying problems; if you don't deal with them, then the women can't move on.  Gaining an accreditation in just a few weeks is a massive deal and has boosted their confidence to continue with the programme. 

I have personally gained a lot from this programme.  I have never taught adults before; I have always worked with young people.  I was nervous before I started but this has been a really positive experience for me because they all want to be here and learn. 

I want to provide lots of women with skills, knowledge and an understanding of health and social care. I want their volunteering experience to eventually lead them back into employment, as so many of them have disengaged from work. One woman said to me that she knows this will be a long process but says at least she's on the ladder." 

The project is funded by the Department of Health, Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund. 

One woman's dreams come true

Five years ago, Natasha Watkins fell through the doors at Platform 51 Doncaster, drunk and just out of prison after 20 previous custodial sentences. In July 2011 her dreams came true when Belinda Grashion offered her a job as an Office Administrator.

Belinda Grashion first came across Platform 51 in June when she attended a networking event in Doncaster for women-led businesses co-sponsored by Platform 51 in association with Icon Women, a social enterprise supporting women in business. Introduced to Natasha after the event, Belinda immediately appreciated the strong potential that Platform 51 saw in Natasha.

Belgray Properties Director, Belinda Grashion, commenting on why she had chosen to recruit Natasha, said: "Firstly I was impressed and moved by her story and her determination to carry on regardless. Her spirit shone through and she had a "will do" attitude; something that is difficult to impart in people. She had many skills that she did not appreciate in herself and I could clearly see these. She had already come a long way and I feel humbled and privileged to be able to offer her a position within our company. I know she will earn the respect and trust within our company and will become a valued member of staff"

As an Office Administrator Natasha will learn how to deal with customers, answer and make appointments, learn conveyancing procedures for house buying, research property prices and market conditions and general accounting.

Natasha's case is a clear example of how the work of Platform 51 can contribute to the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged women and how with appropriate support women can turn their lives around.  It is powerful evidence of how Platform 51's partnership programme with local employers can bring jobs and opportunities for women.

Hear Natasha and Belinda telling the story on BBC Radio Sheffield (skip to one hour 19 minutes of the podcast).

Girls in care are easy prey for unscrupulous men

Girls who are looked after in care are incredibly vulnerable. The facts are bleak:

• 60% of girls in care have contemplated suicide; 40% made at least one attempt
• Girls in care are twice as likely to be cautioned or convicted as other girls
• 25% of all girls leaving care are pregnant or already mothers

With no family network to support them and with cripplingly low-self-esteem, they are easy prey for unscrupulous men. The majority of girls in care have suffered violence or abuse; they think it's normal and they deserve it.

Doncaster is a city blighted by very high levels of children in care: 72 children in 1,000 compared to the national average of 54/ 1,000. Our Powerpuff project for girls in care in Doncaster urgently needs your support. Our Local Authority funding has been cut and we need to raise £60,000 to run this life-changing project. The girls in Doncaster badly need our help, support and protection right now. Please help us today. For some girls, the Powerpuff project was the closest they ever had to a real, caring family.

Read more about how you donation can help. Can you become a Platform 51 Friend and sponsor a girl?  

Your generosity will changes lives right now. Take it from Emily*, aged 13:

"I went into care when I was 4. My mum was a prostitute. I can remember men coming to the house. I had not met any of my family since I left and I felt sad and upset about it. I am really glad I went to the Powerpuff Girls project because I always have someone to talk to. Now I am going to try harder at everything. I love going to Platform 51 we do loads of great stuff. Once we went to London ... and it was the best day of my life."

Please give as much as you can.

*Not her real name.