the nia project>housing services>women's participation
Women's Participation
the nia project is pro-active and committed to user involvement and participation. During the year 2000-2001, the Women’s Participation Group was established in order to promote the involvement and voice of women using the nia project housing, legal, family support and resettlement services. The Women’s Participation Group meets quarterly. It is a time whereby the women get together to share ideas, receive support and advice and receive in-house training.
Women also meet to discuss our services, to give their ideas, opinions and complaints. The Housing Services Director attends these meetings to get feedback from the women and make sure their views are included in service planning. Residents and ex-residents have set up newsletters that are published every month containing articles written by service users and staff. At the moment a group of women are working on setting up a befriending project to offer support to new women arriving at our houses.
Women’s Participation meetings are reflective and an opportunity to learn. All women are included and interpreter is always at hand to translate. It is very strategic in that the Executive Director, who also regularly attends and consults with the women, takes recommendations to the highest levels within the organisation.
Many action points have been taken from these meetings into the strategic development of the organisation, enabling the nia project to truly say that it is user-directed and led. Two examples of such action points are:
The Development of the Woman 2 Woman Project
User Representation and Involvement in the Management Committee.
Women’s Participation Committee/Activities Program:
Date: Thursday 21st December
Venue: TBC
Time: TBC
Description: End of year party