WHAT IS WOMEN BREAKING BARRIERS?
Women Breaking Barriers is a collaborative project involving multiple Women’s Centres and networks organisation across Northern Ireland. Providing tailored education and support to equip women with the skills necessary to overcome personal barriers to employment and education. Delivery of all activities will take place at the point of need across the region.
Activities, one to many, will be delivered in classroom-based training or zoom and will involve a mix of teaching strategies. We intend to use interactive techniques including self/peer teaching, discussion, skills practice, role play, case studies, presentations, and teamwork. Based on best practice in adult learning psychology, we know that adults learn best from their peers in small groups and learn quickly when the material is relevant to their lives.
The training content is informed by Women’s Centres who are experts on the barriers faced by women accessing adult education and will include approaches designed to address these. For example, considering the low confidence cited as a barrier for many women, participants will have an opportunity to participate in the GOALS motivational programme, which has a track record of increasing participants self-esteem and resilience.
Participants can register for World Host training, an excellent programme that will develop skills and knowledge, so your customers feel the benefits, fast. At the same time, WorldHost™ training develops participants’ transferrable skills which they will be able to utilise for the rest of their lives
One-to-one support will be made available to all participants throughout the duration of the programme as an essential part of their learning experience. These one-to-one activities will be delivered by a mix of online and community-based interaction, at the point of need.
Are you interested in taking part? Please fill in our expression of interest form.
Meet the Partners
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Anne Mc Vicker - Director of Women's Resource & Development Agency
WRDA works regionally to advance women’s equality and participation in society. WRDA is the lead partner in this project.
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Karen Sweeney - Director of Women's Support Network
WSN works regionally to support the development of women’s organisations, enable collective action and positively impact on policy and decision-making processes.
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Louise Coyle
NIRWN works regionally to advance the participation and recognition of rural women.
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Helen Crickard
Reclaim the Agenda, works regionally and is a coalition of feminist, youth, LGBTQI+ and community organisations, campaigning for full equality.
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Mandy Gilmore - Atlas Women's Centre
Atlas women’s centre, based in Lisburn, works to help address needs of women by providing a range of services, including courses, workshops, counselling, support groups, support services and sessional childcare.
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Amanda Marshall - Ballybeen Women's Centre
Ballybeen Women’s Centre delivers quality education and training programmes, health promotion programmes, cultural diversity programmes, family and childcare programmes and advice and support.
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Nancy Graham, Training and Education Officer - Falls Women's Centre
Falls Womens Centre is based on the Falls Road, West Belfast. They offer support, educations, counselling and other services to women across all of Ireland and all communities.
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Footprints Women's Centre
Established in 1991, Footprints Women’s Centre is an anchor organisation, supporting the delivery of positive change in the lives of women and children in the Colin area. Our multi service facility is an inclusive and friendly space and a Green flag award winning site.
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Helen Smyth - Greenway Women's Centre
Greenway Women's Centre exists to provide women and their families with positive opportunities for development by breaking down barriers which prevent women's full participation in society.
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Joan Mercer - Shankill Women's Centre
Shankill Women’s Centre is a locally based group to provide education for women. It is the key provider for training, health awareness, childcare and young women's activities in the Greater Shankill and beyond.
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Danielle McIlwaine - Windsor Women's Centre
Windsor womens centre is a place for learning and growing, through education and personal development, women are gaining skills, knowledge and confidence to make a better life for ourselves and our families and to have a stronger voice in the wider Community.
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Rachel Franklin - Urban Co-ordinator - The Women's Support Network
WSN works regionally to support the development of women’s organisations, enable collective action and positively impact on policy and decision-making processes.