Bradford and Airedale PCT ... International Women's Day

Summary:

This annual event which takes place in West Bowling in March is organised to give children and women of all ages, ethnicity and background an opportunity for celebration and fun. The event is organised jointly with the International Women's group and Bradford Trident Women's Network. Funding was received from Bradford City tPCT and QED Community Life Fund. The event has a health and education theme in order to address health inequalities. This was reflected in the activities and information given by service providers. Performances and workshops were organised to reflect the diversity of cultures in Bradford. The event was organised and supported by local residents, volunteers, community groups and local organisations.

Action:

The International Women's planning group is a constituted group. The activities organised were requested by the community and included complementary therapy, multi cultural performance, such as Bollywood dancing, African Caribbean dancing, fashion shows etc. Information stalls were available on health and education including Continence Project, Trident Healthy Living, West Bowling Community Health, Jyoti Project, domestic violence etc. Children's activities included creative arts, dance workshops, information on oral health, Home Safety Scheme, Sure Start etc. Activities organised offered opportunity to experience activities they would not normally encounter due to religious, cultural issues, lack of social inclusion, financial difficulty etc. The event promoted community cohesion by offering a safe environment for people to interact with each other.

Outcome:

  • over 600 women and children in attendance from diverse communities.
  • access to information on health topics promoted awareness and knowledge.
  • consultation between service providers and users, especially hard to reach groups.
  • local volunteers gained valuable skills, knowledge and experience in order to boost confidence and provide empowerment.
  • positive evaluation completed with 56 participants.

Additional:

The International Women's Day is an important event for the women in West Bowling. The Community Health Action Project has plans to provide local community groups with small health workshops and information stalls. This will complement the International Women's Day and will allow more people to benefit from localised activities in both West Bowling and now encompassing the Horton Park locality.

Contact:

Amina Galaria

Community Health Action Project

104 Gaythorne Road, West Bowling

Bradford BD5 8YA

07984696192 amina.galaria@bradford.nhs.uk