Inspirational women land £250,000 Lotto cash

INSPIRE Women Oldham have received £250,000 lottery funding

INSPIRATIONAL women are celebrating after successfully bidding for £250,000 of Big Lottery funding to create a brand-new centre to help transform the lives of female residents.

Inspire Women Oldham brings women together who may have experienced difficulties or struggles in their life with the aim of turning "vulnerability" into confidence.

Women are encouraged to take part in a variety of courses designed to support them, improve their self esteem and skills and reduce social isolation.

It was founded almost five years ago by Sally Bonnie, who aimed to improve life chances and raise aspirations of women across the whole community, regardless of their circumstances.

She said: "I am delighted that we have been chosen to receive this funding.

"It will make a huge difference to the women we support and it will give us a visible location and base in the town centre.

"It will also allow us to work more collaboratively with other women's organisations, share our experiences and work together to raise aspirations of women and give them the confidence to know that they are important and have things to offer."

She added that the money, from Women and Girls fund at the Big Lottery Fund, will be used to secure a lease on a new town centre premises, continue the support they currently provide to Oldham's women and expand their reach to even more who may be in need of help.

The group was one of just 63 projects in the UK to receive a share of the £45.5 million fund, beating over 1000 other applications all designed to support women and girls to regain and retain control of their lives.

Sally added that the money, which will be awarded over the next three years, is the first significant funding the group have received since they began.

She said: "We had £5,000 of funding before from the Oldham Co-Operative Fund but we have relied on generosity and giving for the past four years.

"We didn't have a plan and didn't have financial security.

"But we had a lot of support from the community, including New Charter providing a room for us and First Choice Homes Oldham donating furniture and computers.

"We've also held fundraising events and our members have taken part in their own challenges to raise money."

One woman who credits Inspire Women Oldham with turning her life around is Lynn Ball.

Lynn (59) was one of the first ladies to take part in the "Finding Me" programme, a course designed to help women focus on what they would like to achieve and improve their self-esteem to allow them to seek new opportunities.

Lynn, who struggled with mental health issues when she joined Inspire Women, said: "I was given a flyer about the course from the JobCentre Plus but I didn't really think it was for me.

"When I read it more carefully at home I thought I might as well give it a go and it has honestly changed my life."

Since completing the programme, Lynn has gone on to volunteer with Inspire Women and now helps other women on the "Finding Me" Course.

"I'm always trying to spread the news about Inspire Women, even chatting to any women I see at a bus stop about how it might help them," Lynn said.

"I see people come through the door, worried and not knowing what to expect.

"But I explain that I've been in their situation and support them.

"Over the weeks I see them blossom into beautiful and confident women who know they have skills and talents that they can share.

"It really is fantastic and I wish there was something like this many years ago for the women of Oldham."

One of the women she is currently supporting is Shazia Ghulam (35), from Oldham.

Shazia said: "It is a really great group and it has had a positive effect on my life.

"It is somewhere that I can come to relax and get away from stress.

"I've met a lot of great people and they have helped improve my confidence and my English speaking skills."

The announcement of funding was also met with celebration from Oldham Council Chief Executive Carolyn Wilkins, who visited Inspire Oldham to meet with the volunteers and hear stories from the women involved.

She said: "It is fantastic news that we will soon have a facility in Oldham town centre that women can access to get support.

"Inspire Women is a great example of partnership working in the borough and I am sure this will continue in the future.

"Improving the ambitions of Oldham's women is a powerful force for good and the stories I have heard from the women involved are inspirational."

Other supporters of Inspire Women include Oldham JobCentre Plus, who attend some of the courses during the final stages to showcase the opportunities available to women, and Action Together, who provide help or support to organisations aiming to enhance the community in Oldham.

Liz Windsor-Welsh, of Action Together, said: "Inspire Women is a great example of a group growing and working together to change Oldham for the better.

"Women have an important role in the family and by improving their own lives, they can help to improve the lives of their family as well."

Final details of where the centre will be are currently being confirmed however Inspire Women are hoping it will open in September.

Anyone who is able to help with decorating and improvement works by donating equipment or time is asked to contact Sally via email sally@thecollectivepartnership.co.uk