Platform 51

Platform 51 supports girls and women as they take control of their lives.

what we do

Platform 51 Plymouth

Platform 51 Plymouth is based in the heart of the city. We work from our own centre and at community centres and schools in Plymouth and around.

This approach makes us very flexible and able to reach out to many women struggling with a range of problems. We encourage all the girls and women we meet to take part, speak up, make decisions, share their opinions and get involved in local forums, with campaigning and volunteering.

We run drop-in sessions, both at our centre and in schools, where girls and women can take part in different activities and talk to project workers about anything that may be troubling them. Women can learn about healthy eating, diet and exercise, safe sex and sexual health, alcohol and drugs and get support to stop smoking.

We plan our sessions according to what women tell us they need, and get everyone to work together to overcome differences and prejudices. Using activities such as arts, music, drama and dance, outdoor activities and residentials, we help women to restore their confidence, gain skills and develop lasting positive friendships. Our parenting skills workshops and young mums courses offer support, information and the opportunity for accredited learning.

We offer guidance and encouragement for girls to stay in education or go on to further training and give information and advice about work, skills and jobs.

Our accredited education programmes are informal and relaxed and help girls and women to understand themselves and learn essential life skills. In the past 12 months of the more than 400 girls and women we have had regular and direct contact with, 32 have returned to education, training or employment, more than 80 have gained worked on personal development and basic skills and 47 have gained accreditations, with many more still working on it.