An inspirational evening

We were pleased to host the first WEN Forum yesterday, which provided the perfect opportunity for several ladies to find out more about the WEN project as well as about the work of HCMA.

Following a warm welcome by Eileen, WEN’s project co-ordinator, Tulasi spoke about the aims and aspirations of the WEN project – that it is a programme designed to empower local women to achieve their dreams through developing their confidence and providing them with a range of employability skills.

A poignant aspect of the evening was the testimonials given by some of the participants of the pilot programme which highlighted the success of WEN in such a short space of time. Each of the ladies shared stories of how Eileen and WEN changed their lives for the better.

There were guest four speakers during the evening, each of whom shared experiences of her journey and achievements that led to her current position in life. Each speaker was inspirational and shared powerful messages. The speakers for the evening were Debbie Akehurst (Chair of HCMA), Katrina Kozuch (from North Herts College), Coucillor Sharon Taylor and Ilse Leenders (psychotherapist/counsellor).

Key messages from the speakers included the importance of having at least basic knowledge of financial matters, and to never allow others to dictate whether or not we can do something.

One of the core messages delivered at the meeting is that women need to work together, to support and give confidence to one another. Women face a hard enough time in the male-dominated work arena, that it is important we champion each other’s achievements. And we should be able to look to other women for encouragement and guidance.

We hope the WEN network will continue to grow and that it will inspire and empower women to take control of their future, secure in the knowledge that there are other women out there who are going through similar experiences, who are willing and able to support each other.

We were thrilled with the turn out at the event, so much so that we are now moving to a bigger venue at North Herts College. We look forward to seeing you at the next WEN forum for another exciting opportunity to share knowledge and experiences.

By Tulasi Siva

About the WEN project

The Women Employability Network (WEN) is a newly-established project which aims to equip local women with employability and self-employability skills. Developed by Eileen Hutchinson and piloted in Stevenage, WEN is providing a mixture of training and mentoring sessions to enable women to develop themselves so they feel confident and resourceful to pursue their dreams. Over 25 women have taken part in the pilot programme, nine of whom, of varying backgrounds, have participated in this course, each having joined WEN for different reasons.

Over a number of weeks, the women attended training sessions which covered a range of topics such as career profiling, analysing strengths and weaknesses, introduction to interview and presentation skills, and creative thinking. The training sessions have also developed the women’s confidence, self-esteem and their ability to work well with others. Forming part of the project, a mentoring scheme has been put in place to support the women and further their development, with many of the ladies mentoring one another.

Already, the WEN project has been a tremendous success with the ladies, bringing about positive changes in their lives, with at least two of the ladies being offered new jobs where previously they had had little success.

As part of WEN, the next phase will be to hold seven themed monthly forums, which will provide practical support to enable the women to take the next steps required to achieve their individual goals. The monthly forums, starting in January, will include topics such as networking, dress and colour coordination, starting up a new business and working in various sectors. Each forum will be hosted by the ladies who attended the WEN course.

We are pleased to be holding the first WEN forum this month. Guest speakers at this first event will include Councillor Sharon Taylor, Debbie Akehurst, Katrina Kozuch and Ilse Leenders. The theme for the evening will be Networking, and it will be held at InTown Training, Stevenage, on Wednesday 25th January between 7pm and 9pm.

By Tulasi Siva