Change It: Renew Programme

Has the Coronavirus crisis impacted your confidence or wellbeing? Our support for women in the Liverpool City Region is here to help…

We’re excited to announce our ‘Change It: Renew’ programme of support to help women across the Liverpool City Region to improve their resilience, coping mechanisms and mental wellbeing.

We understand that the Coronavirus pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for women – many of whom have found themselves bearing the brunt of the crisis, both at work and at home.

We know that women are more likely to hold roles as frontline or key workers or to work in industries like travel and hospitality which have been the hardest hit financially.

Closer to home, we also know many women find themselves as primary caregivers for children, elderly relatives, or others in their local community. On top of this, recent lockdown measures have added yet more pressure on the most vulnerable in our communities.

It’s safe to say, we’re all in need of some support.

That’s why we are excited to bring you an extended programme of personal development support and services to help you recover and grow at this time.

‘Change It: Renew’ aims to create a safe, inclusive space for women to gather, connect and support each other through the current crisis and beyond.

We’re inviting women from right across the Liverpool City Region to access services and resources to help you improve your resilience, coping mechanisms and mental wellbeing.

Through the programme you can benefit from peer to peer support, connectivity, and online networks, so that you have appropriate support to help you address any problem areas, rebuild your life and take an active role in your local community.

It is hoped that this support will help women:

•  Be better able to access support, develop and sustain peer networks to deal with crisis issues in their lives and in the particular crisis arising from COVID 19 

• Have improved coping mechanisms and improved mental well being 

• Be prepared and supported to plan for recovery through support on deploying digital tools and technology 

• Have improved levels of resilience

The project builds on the ‘Change It’ programme which currently operates solely in Liverpool.

This new support is now open to women from all six boroughs of the Liverpool City Region, including Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Halton, St Helens, and Knowsley.

Funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, is supporting ‘Change It: Renew’. Thanks to the Government and The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport for making this possible.

Those wanting to find out more should contact hello@thewo.org.uk for more information.

Andrea's Story: 'This programme has changed me for the better'

Andrea turned to the Women’s Organisation’s Change It to support her in her postpartum depression recovery journey.

Andrea, 38-year-old mum of four and grandmother of two gave birth to her fourth child in 2018.  After giving birth, she began to suffer from post-partum depression, which left her feeling isolated, anxious and overwhelmed. ‘I felt alone, unworthy, and a failure in every aspect of my life…I had very low confidence and wanted to build up a better understanding of myself and my abilities.’ 

Andrea was fed-up of being controlled by her feelings and decided to take action to change her outlook on life. An organisation called Person Shaped Support recommended Andrea to enrol on Change It, and the rest is history! Andrea now feels much more confident in herself, and more able to strive for what she wants in life: 'I believe I can achieve my goals if I put my mind to it. The programme has encouraged me to follow my dreams.'

Our Change It programme helps women like Andrea build confidence and get their life back on track. She described her favourite part of the programme as meeting brave and influential women in similar situations. Every woman in the room is going through something, each has their own battles, their own stories, and of course, they all have one thing in common - to be better versions of themselves. 

Andrea expressed special thanks to Jenny, who lead the sessions; through her help and advice, Andrea has recognised her array of transferable skills and is planning on gaining voluntary experience supporting individuals struggling with mental health and domestic abuse. She also plans on taking a counselling course to support people who have been through the same experiences as herself.

Andrea is one of many women who have attended Change IT, and turned their lives around for the better to achieve their goals. Whatever your vision for yourself, Andrea’s advice is simple: ‘Don’t think about it, just do it, and make the change to your life today. I have most definitely ‘changed it’ for the better!’

If you're looking to get started on building a positive future, we still have 'Change it: Progress to Success' dates available:

The Women's Organisation - 54 St James Street, L1 0AB

4 Week session starting Wednesday 29th April 2020 (10am - 3pm)

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme or to book contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

 

Change it: Are You Ready For a New You?

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to put 2019 behind me, dust myself off and start again in 2020. That’s the beauty and fun of a New Year: we can reinvent ourselves and begin something exciting which we have maybe always wanted to do. 

When people change their lives, it always begins with an idea or a vision of how we want our life to be, and sometimes that’s where it stays - in our heads.

Your vision could be to do with changing your mindset, getting a new job, or even setting up that business you always had in mind.  However, for many women, our lack of confidence and self-belief holds us back, and stops from becoming the best version of ourselves.

Change It is just what 2020 has prescribed for you. This personal growth programme will empower you to dream bigger, and after the sessions, you will walk away with a plan for success and a toolbox of tips to help you achieve it.

We cover many elements in the Change It programme which can help you to turn your life around, such as:

Assertiveness: You’ll learn how to communicate effectively and reduce misunderstandings, plus be able to stand up for yourself and for others.

Beliefs: Our beliefs can come from our childhood, our schooling or our socialisation. We show you the skills to effectively challenge a negative self- belief and create new ones that enable you to reach your true potential

.

‘Stinking thinking’: Our thoughts create feelings, our feelings create behaviours, our behaviours create more thinking… Your thoughts can impact how you react to situations, whether that be negatively or positively. The skills you gain from this programme will help you switch negative thoughts through thinking shifts, and thereby altering negative behaviours.

Motivation: What drives, inspires and motivates you to make a change in your life? Of course, the answer to this will be different for everyone, as we all want different things out of life. These sessions help you to develop a ‘can do’ attitude and encourage self-awareness of your needs and values in your own life.

Over the past three years, we have had hundreds of women pass successfully through the programme. Afterwards, they have found the confidence to do many things they thought they could never achieve, from enrolling in courses at Adult Learning Services to starting their dream business with the help of the Women’s Org Business Enterprise. 

For some women, it was all about getting the confidence to go back to work after looking after the kids, and in other cases, women had found the courage to access the support needed to address domestic abuse in the home. Whatever the change you need to make, there is plenty of support in the Liverpool area, many of which the Women’s Organisation link with.

We run Change It in a few places around the city: either outreach in the community, usually children’s centres, or in 54 St James Street.

These can be over eight sessions, or four full days in the Women’s Organisation. We offer childcare for sessions in the Children’s centres, which has proved very helpful to many women.

Personal debt is a barrier preventing many women from maximising their potential and changing their lives for the better. 

This has led to the Change It programme partnering up with Citizens Advice, who support many people in getting out of debt with the Better Off Finance programme. Through this initiative, a key worker will support you in finding solutions out of debt and helping you reach the life you want.

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got, so this is your time to shine and get the life you really want – not the one you believe you ought to have.

Please feel free to contact The Women’s Organisation for a friendly chat about the Change It Programme or any other programmes we run on business related enterprise.

Let’s make 2020 the best one yet!

If you're looking to get started on building a positive future, we still have 'Change it: Progress to Success' dates available:

Monday 24th February - (4 sessions) 54 St James Street

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme or to book contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

Change it: Progress to Success - “When Did You Start to Fall Apart?”

Steph thought she was living the perfect life until she hit a bump in the road which eventually led to her losing her job, her house and most importantly her family. Nearing rock bottom, she decided it was time to take control of her own life and knock down those barriers getting in the way of her happiness...

"When did you start to fall apart?

This is what The Women's Organisation's trainer Mandy asked me during our first day of Change it: Progress to Success… and that’s when my journey back to ME began. 

I am a woman in her late forties, and I can honestly say that I thought I had it all. A nice partner, great kids, a fabulous house and a great job in the health sector, we went on holidays abroad, no money worries and our friends were fun living family people… life was good!

When you run a business, you are not immune to the government’s austerity cuts, especially with my husbands’ contracts being from Merseyside and his business went bust. He started gambling and lost all our saving and cut a long (familiar) story short, we lost everything. 

It was the most stressful time of our lives and I must admit I didn’t handle things well. It started out just a few drinks to help me sleep at night, I kept telling myself it was medicinal and I needed it with what I was going through, because I was still at work in a respected role I told myself that this made it ok. 

Within a few months I was drinking (secretly) a litre bottle of vodka a week hidden in empty bottles of water. And I thought I could handle it, until one day I was picking the kids up from school and I fell in the corridor and their teacher reported me to social services, not allowing me to take them home.

Drink is the acceptable demon we turn to in a crisis and it turned me into an alcoholic within 6 months. I lost my job, we lost our home and my marriage broke down in front of me and I am under social services for neglect, this is the mother who used to take her kids horse-riding for god sake. I moved back in with my mum, began an alcohol program and at times felt lost and broken. What had happened to my life?

Sitting in the Life Rooms I saw a poster for Change it, thinking what have I got to lose and I had only popped in to see what it had to offer… life was in the title and my life had fell apart in fact. On the first day of Change it, I know I was amongst friends… I was with women in the same boat as me.

On the first day I laughed ‘till I cried. The trainer Mandy has a way that takes the pain out of a bad situation and looks at the humour in everything. She said at the beginning of every session “Change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”

It’s funny how you go through life believing one thing and suddenly you begin to challenge the very beliefs that was the glue that banded your whole existence together. I was brought up to get married, get a dab house, buy nice things and have the kids do well. I had all of that, but still I wasn’t happy. I realise now when all that fell apart, I was just left with ME and who the hell was I without all of that? Change it opened a doorway that I thought was firmly shut and that was the opportunity to be who I’m meant to be. 

The best thing from the course was learning it was ok to fall apart and putting ME together again was a choice and an opportunity for a chance to be the real you for once. It gave me the courage to challenge my beliefs to explore what really makes me happy, and since the programme I am going back to college to study art.

I have a support worker who helped me get another house, half the size of my old one and I’m so much happier. One of my barriers to changing my life was debt and I found Citizens Advice support from the programme and that has helped me so much in sorting out my money matters. 

We all have some crutch, drink, drugs, eating, shopping which can start off small and it’s so easy to let them destroy us. The strange thing is I thought it destroyed me, but Change it helped me see that it has set me free. 

I don’t drink anymore; the course has helped me see that hiding in a bottle doesn’t make the problem go away. I never knew there was so much free support available in Liverpool. If any woman is reading this and maybe feels lost or unhappy then look at me, I am proof it works. I changed my life for the better. Who would have thought I would have started to paint murals, be divorced and jobless …and be the happiest I’ve ever been? Sometimes you must fall apart …to start again

What are you waiting for?"

If you're looking to get started on building a positive future, we still have 'Change it: Progress to Success' dates available:

The Women's Organisation - 54 St James Street, L1 0AB
4 Week session starting Wednesday 19th February 2019 (10am - 3pm)

The Women's Organisation - 54 St James Street, L1 0AB
4 Week session starting Monday 24th February 2019 (10am - 3pm)


If you'd like to find out more information about the programme or to book contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

Yasmin's Story: "I learnt that I was not alone, Change it made me feel like I was part of something"

5 years ago, Yasmin Annie moved to Liverpool to start dance training at Lipa. Her career took off and she founded her own company 'Percaya Dance' whilst juggling being a dancer, performer & business woman. Feeling overwhelmed and anxious, she knew something had to change...

"I would get days where I just didn't see the point in anything I was doing and I felt like I couldn't handle anything alone. I felt I was pathetic and relied on everyone and that one day everyone was going to leave me and I'd be alone having to deal with life. I had no confidence in myself feeling like I had constantly to get reassurance off everyone, it was tiring and straining for people around me.

Yasmin Annie

I went on to do the ‘Change it’ course which came conveniently right after the break up. It felt like fate! During the ‘Change it’ course I learnt a lot. I learnt that I was not alone, even in a room full of ladies I’d never met. Change It made me feel like I was apart of something, because everyone in that room was going through something, they had their own battles, their own stories but we all at some point felt the same feelings! 

I didn’t feel 100% and I wasn’t sure how to change it. I’m obsessed with self help books and anything to help myself feel and be a better person. I've been to counselling, CBT, hypnosis and I think all these things are great and potentially could work more effectively for others, however for myself I couldn't keep up with the sessions as well as my hectic life.

Just before I went on the course, I went through a break up which meant I had to move out of my house and change my surroundings. This terrified me because I had to face one of my biggest fears: being alone, feeling abandoned and having to deal with life alone. My go-to reaction was ‘I can’t do that’.

The best thing about the programme was the trainer and the knowledge she had. Jenny is an asset to the Woman’s Org courses, she helped me a lot, she understood, cared and listened and had so much information to share.

I learnt so much, which I now use in my everyday life, which gets me through my days. I think I've have always been strong and confident deep down but I never told myself enough which was the issue! After leaving the course I reminded myself everyday that I was confident and that I could handle life on my own and that I am a strong person. It wasn’t always easy at first I felt like I was reading a script about someone else and it didn't connect to me at all! But everyday I developed and I started to notice a change and ways I would approach something in more of a positive way. I felt brave!

I still have a lot to learn and practice but I'm at a great place and I can and will handle what is thrown at me. I can do that by helping people, helping myself and helping in general through dance, and just having a tight network of women around me because I think we are good support for each other! 

Women who are thinking about doing ‘Change it’ Just do it! You won't lose anything from doing it. Only gain, gain a lot of amazing friends going through so many different things, which will broaden your mind! You will gain the knowledge that everyone has their own rough journeys but everyone's goal in the end is the same which is to be happy within themselves so why not help each other to get there. Finally you will learn that you deserve happiness and you will get there by following your own path!

I have changed a lot with the help of Womens Org and also by believing in myself that I can change things. I am so happy that I made the decision to go and I made that decision on my own and I am so proud of myself for how far I’ve come."

We have new dates available for Change it!

54 St James Street - Monday 14th January 2018, 10-3 (4 Sessions)


Wavertree Childrens's Centre - Tuesday 15th January 2018, 12:30-15:30 (5 Sessions)


Kensington Childrens Centre - Wednesday 16th January, 1-3 (8 Sessions with half term break in February)


Speke Childrens Centre - Thursday 17th January 2018, 9:15-12:15 (5 Sessions)


Belle Vale Childrens Centre - Thursday 24th January, 1-3 (8 Sessions)


If you’d like to find out more information about the programme or book a place, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

Andrea's Story: "It was very exciting discovering the change in myself step by step"

When Andrea was recommended 'Change it: Progress to Success' by The Women's Organisation's Engagement Team member Sabah, her first thought was 'How does she know that I really need it?' After moving to Liverpool and losing her way, she decided to give it a try. 

"I have been in Liverpool for five years and somehow became completely lost. My partner got a job here, his dream job, and it was time to follow his aspirations (the previous ten years were about my passions). However, as a Hungarian journalist I didn’t know what was next for me. I still kept writing articles about my experiences, great and amusing British traditions and other cultural topics in my mother tongue, although the time and distance worked against me. My previous network was thinning out and I couldn’t find my new place.

This course promised a lot, identification of the positive achievements in my life and setting achievable targets on my action plan for example. I wondered how they would be able to do so, because my clouds lost their silver lining completely…

It started with a kind of magic. I never knew how difficult it could be to find positive adjectives (relating to myself) with the letters of my name. Or at all, at that time. Finally, I found six words which felt mine, and a journey started on which the brilliant and understanding Victoria guided us. We learnt a great deal about ourselves and more crucially about each other, that we are not alone with our struggles. We came to comprehend the importance of change, and more importantly how to appreciate it, and studied assertiveness, what is a very useful skill in an impatient and (passive) aggressive world.

It was very exciting discovering the change in myself step by step, to see the world through a different filter. Somehow everything got a warmer shade, just like when the sun suddenly shines through the clouds. However, the biggest surprise came after the third week, when I got my first ever English blog entry published. Honestly, it is a big deal for me, who thought that I just had to let my ‘writing thingy’ go…

Without the Change It program I would never have the courage to offer my writing skills in English, but by now I have learnt my favourite lesson: there is no such a thing like fail, it is only an abbreviation for First Attempt In Learning. Valuable message for a perfectionist. And the best part, they asked me for some more articles.

I have to thank Victoria Hart, Sabah Shams and Cynthia Bosafola (my business advisor), who introduced me and led me on my journey. I still have a lot to do, but now I am less afraid than how excited I am. All in all, I recommend this course for anyone and everyone who ever felt being under a bad spell or simply curious about themselves. Have I mentioned that it is fun too?"

Thanks very much to Andrea for sharing her story, we wish you all the best for the future

We have new dates available for Change it!

54 St James Street - Monday 14th January 2018, 10-3 (4 Sessions)

Wavertree Childrens's Centre - Tuesday 15th January 2018, 12:30-15:30 (5 Sessions)

Kensington Childrens Centre - Wednesday 16th January, 1-3 (8 Sessions with half term break in February)

Speke Childrens Centre - Thursday 17th January 2018, 9:15-12:15 (5 Sessions)

Belle Vale Childrens Centre - Thursday 24th January, 1-3 (8 Sessions)

If you’d like to find out more information about the programme or book a place, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

Sophie's Change it Story: "Go for it, it's life changing"

Over here at The Women’s Organisation we love nothing more than hearing the uplifting stories from the women we’ve helped through our ‘Change it: Progress to Success’ programme. If you’re feeling like your confidence could do with a boost but you’re struggling to set the wheels in motion then hear from Sophie, a recent change it graduate who after lacking self-belief for so long decided to do something about it…

"If you could have seen me a few years ago, I was a very different mum with a very different mindset. Negative thinking was keeping me in a place that I didn’t want to be in. I knew I wanted to become a beauty therapist, but I genuinely lacked the belief system and motivation to do anything about it. There I was, a single mum with a dream just coasting through my life and then out of the blue the Change it programme appeared at the Stoney Croft Children’s Centre and the line worker insisted that I go on to it after seeing a lot of women transform their lives after completing it.

I moved to Liverpool with my children after falling in love with the city but at first, I felt isolated. Someone in my local shop suggested trying the Stoney Croft Children’s Centre and the kids loved it! There was really no excuse for me to start following my dreams, but the self-belief demon had a hold, telling me “you’re not clever enough, you aren’t good enough” and because I knew it a year had passed without me even trying to ring the college.

Then change it happened and I have never looked back.

The first session I met the trainer Mandy, I knew I was in safe hands. I felt like I was in the right place at the right time and of course having childcare meant that I wasn’t worried about my kids.

After the first session I began to realise that I was not alone, there were lots of mothers who felt stuck in their lives and I wasn’t the only one. Most of the mums wanted to do something with their lives, they wanted more but just lacked the confidence to do it. We’re not lazy, we don’t sit around watching daytime TV all day, that’s a misconception.

I had no idea that we could alter our thinking and as Mandy says, “Stinking thinking needs a shrinking”. We can change our thought patterns and I didn’t realise that not being assertive stops us from becoming who we are meant to become… it was a real eye opener to say the least.

I have changed for the better, I am more confident and after the course I applied for the Level 2 in Beauty Therapy at Liverpool Community College and guess what, I got in! I used to go over everything in my head all the things that could go wrong in the interview until I changed my thinking to “What could go right?”

The advice I would give to any mum thinking of doing the Change it course in any Children’s Centre is “Go for it as it’s life changing”. It’s like having a tool kit for your life, Challenge limiting beliefs, change your thinking, access your values and lots more. I would probably be still sitting there only dreaming of going to college and look at me now getting my life ready and on the path to becoming a proper beauty therapist. Stop dreaming, start doing and enroll for Change it!"

Thank Sophie for sharing your fantastic story, we wish you all the best for your future! Join us over on Twitter and Facebook to keep updated with all things Change it!

We're about to announce a number of Change it sessions around Liverpool within the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned!

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

Liz's Story: 'Working On Yourself is The Key To Change'

This month at The Women's Organisation during our #WeEmpower campaign and will be sharing the amazing stories of the people we've helped to empower around Merseyside. 'Change it: Progress to Success' has been having a positive impact on women's lives around Liverpool, helping them tackle their lack of confidence, improve their self esteem but also prepare them to make a positive change in there lives. 

Today, we meet Liz, who after years of believing she couldn't, finally did...

"As a mum of two little girls under five- my life is full of dolls, singing nursery rhymes and reading books. I always wanted to go back to work as I could never see my life as ‘just a full-time mum'. I appreciate that some mums love being a full-time mum, but I think I needed a job as I not only wanted adult conversation, but I needed something fulfilling to do. I have a husband who is always encouraging me to get back to work but it was me that was holding myself back.

The question going around my head was 'How can I get a job when I have lost my confidence?' After 6 years out of the job market, I was convinced that I had left it too long and that I would make a mess when trying to find one. I would always be thinking 'Could I even get a job, who would employ me?' and I got to a point where my baby brain couldn’t remember the title of my foundation degree. How bizarre!

That’s when the 'Change It' programme came along and I’m now getting job ready.

I’m now making use of all the job support advice I can get my hands on through the children’s centres and Citizens Advice as starting a job hunt can sometimes feel like a mine field, especially with working and family tax benefits.

'Change It' helped me to focus on what I wanted to achieve, how I was going to achieve it but has also shown me that it’s not a sign of weakness to get support. The best thing was being surrounded by the group as it moved me to action, we were able to all help each other and it also reminded me that I was actually good at helping people.

My previous job was in the personal and social care field and in reality I feel like I had gotten bit rusty. I think sometimes as a mum you can get lost in ‘Mummy Land’ and forget who you were, but I am telling you that you can get back and find out who you are from going on the 'Change It' course. I’ve laughed and learned and believe me when I say the people around you will be able to see the difference in you.

It turns out that working on yourself is the key to change and at this moment in time I am applying for jobs in the care sector and gaining experience by volunteering at children’s centres and my local school. Another growth area in my life is my involvement with the Community Sponsorship program that supports Syrian families moving to Liverpool and I am very vocal with my suggestions in the program (that’s the assertiveness I’ve learned from our trainer, Mandy) I am now confident that a new job is in fact possible and that I can achieve it.

I talk about the course all the time in my community and I always recommend it. If you are stuck and you want to change your life the guess what you can. Mandy said on the very first day,

'If you always do what you’ve always done …you will always get what you’ve always got'

So, stop complaining about how your life is and go and Change IT!"

Thank Liz for sharing your fantastic story, we wish you all the best for your future! Join us over on Twitter and Facebook during our #WeEmpower month to keep updated with all things Change it!

We have a number of Change it programmes going on around Liverpool and we have recently added some new dates:

54 St James Street - Wednesday 12th September 2018 (4 Sessions)

Dingle Childrens Centre -Thursday 20th September 2018 (8 sessions)
Toxteth Firefit Hub - Thursday 20th September 2018 (5 sessions)

Everton Childrens Centre - Monday 8th October 2018 (5 Sessions)

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme or to book a place, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

'Change it: Progress to Success' Catching up With Our Graduates

Over the past year we’ve supported hundreds of women across Liverpool to reach their full potential, think about their next steps in life and build on that confidence inside them. This week we were delighted to be able to invite some of the women back to join our focus group to have a cuppa and discuss how the 'Change it' journey was for everyone...

Held by our 'Change it' trainer - Jenny Wallwork, everyone shared how they had been doing since graduating from the programme, some of the women had gone on to start volunteering for organisation like Citizens Advice, some went on to change their job roles and some have even started to think about starting their own business. One of the women has taken steps to academically progress:

“Since Change it, I gave done my maths GCSE and I’m awaiting my results in August! My dream is to start pursuing my business ideas and I’ll be starting my teaching assistant Level 2 in September in Liverpool college"

We love sharing our open letter case studies featuring the amazing women we’ve supported over the past year and we’re able to see the huge impact that 'Change it' has on peoples lives. When asked about the impact on their own lives, our group spoke about how it helped reinforce their place in the world and helped them find more out about themselves.

“It’s helped me to become more confident and have the courage to make significant changes and just think about myself, I’m able to look at the positive now and not the negative”

“It has reminded me of my qualities, strengths and helped me gain my confidence back. I know have a ‘I can’ attitude and always consciously thinking positively”

Completing the programme and being able to take away tools and strategies to use in real world situations is important and from the focus group we were able to see some of the basic techniques that had a long-lasting effect such as keeping a diary, having meditation mornings and using the great ‘Stinking Thinking’ method used to banish negative thoughts 

Rounding up the focus group, Jenny asked the women one simple question:

“What makes ‘Change it: Progress to Success’ different to all the other personal development programmes you’ve been on?” 

"Change it is able to bring together women from all backgrounds, which was great and let me take something away from it"

"You're able to meet people you don't know and really open up about your life, sometimes it can be hard to talk to friends or family so it's a great outlet"

"Its the trainers, you're not being talked at and you're able to have your say during the course"

"The course content is so relevant to your life and hits all the right notes. There's also something really unique and empowering about being in The Womens Organisation building (54 St James Street) it feels like a really great safe environment"

Big thank you for all the participants that attended our focus group, it was great to have a catch up and see what amazing things you're achieving!

We have a number of Change it programmes going on around Liverpool and have recently added some new dates:

54 St James Street - Tuesday 7th August 2018 (4 sessions)

54 St James Street - Wednesday 12th September 2018 (4 Sessions)

Dingle Childrens Centre -Thursday 20th September 2018 (8 sessions)

Toxteth Firefit Hub - Thursday 20th September 2018 (5 sessions)

Everton Childrens Centre - Monday 8th October 2018 (5 Sessions)

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme or to book a place, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

Dayo's Story: How Change It Changed Me

We love nothing more than when our 'Change It: Progress to Success' graduates share their amazing stories of how the programme has had a positive impact on their lives. Author, Dayo Benson recently finished the 4-week Change It programme at 54 St James Street and had some fantastic comments to share about it...

"The Change It: Progress to Success course facilitated a time of transformation for me. I was completely oblivious to some of the ways I was holding myself back, and the course challenged my thinking, attitudes, and beliefs about myself.

  

Beyond raising my self-awareness and revealing areas in which I needed to work on myself, Jenny, the course leader, also provided practical tips for making positives changes.

Change It was the highlight of my week for the four weeks of the course. I left each session with lots of food for thought and points to action. It spurred me to commence my own personal research on self-improvement and personal development. I appreciated the safe and supportive environment that Jenny cultivated and found myself able to share openly with the other women--a huge step for this reserved introvert.

Every woman should do Change It, or something similar. We're so used to rushing around, juggling numerous responsibilities; barely catching a breath. Change It is an opportunity to catch your breath, reevaluate your life and goals, and determine whether to change direction or stay on course.

I would highly recommend this course to anybody who feels stuck in a rut or who simply wants to unlock their full potential.

All my expectations regarding the course were superseded. I'm sure yours will be too."

Dayo with her Change It group

Thanks to Dayo for sharing your experience of Change it, we wish you all the best for your future! Dayo has written a number of fiction books and you can find more information out about them over on her website here 

We have recently announced more 'Change it: Progress to Success' dates going on around Liverpool:

Life Rooms, Walton - Wednesday 27th June 2018 (5 sessions)
54 St James Street - Tuesday 7th August 2018 (4 sessions)
54 St James Street - Wednesday 12th September 2018 (4 Sessions)
Dingle Childrens Centre -Thursday 20th September 2018 (8 sessions)
Toxteth Firefit Hub -Thursday 20th September 2018 (5 sessions)
54 St James Street - Tuesday 30th October 2018 (4 sessions)
Everton Childrens Centre - Monday 8th October 2018 (5 Sessions)

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme or to book a place, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

CHANGE IT: Natalie Burgess

‘Change it: Progress to Success’ was designed to help the women of Liverpool see their true potential and do great things. We have been lucky enough over the past year to help women in different stages of their life come together to build a positive future. This is why we are so delighted to be able to announce our new dates for the programme!

Whether you’re looking to manage your thinking or develop more effective communication skills 'Change it: Progress to Success' really has something for everyone. We have seen women become more motivated and confident right in front of our eyes and walk away from the sessions with a new lease of life

Are you still wondering whether 'Change it: Progress to Success' is for you?

We caught up with Natalie Burgess who graduated from the Change It Programme, before starting her role as a Finance officer for The Women's Organisation to tell you all about her experience on the programme and why Change it will change you.

“I’d just had my first child and didn’t feel like I really knew what I was doing, and it started to make me feel a little bit depressed really. Picton Childrens Centre really helped guide me through the steps of having my first child. Checking the centres timetable, I saw Change it and I thought ‘I’m going to apply’ so I booked onto the course and I can honestly say it was the best 8 weeks of my life.

I went onto the programme because I wanted to become a better me, I felt like I was very confident before having children and I started to feel like I didn’t know who I was or where I was going in life, but doing the programme helped me realise who I really am.

The best thing about the programme was learning how to say no, it’s really helpful to know how to be more assertive. I’m also confident in myself again, it’s made me realise that life is too short, and you should really enjoy it.

I’ve always thought about starting my own business, and after finding out I was pregnant with my 2^nd child it scared me because I didn’t want to struggle with working and having childcare issues, I realised that if I did my passion of starting my own business I’ll be able to be in my children’s life a lot more, this is still my dream but now I’m able to feel more motivated about going for it.

Since Change it, I received information from the childrens centre about a job that was being advertised at The Women’s Organisation, and since the organisation had already helped me a lot I decided to go for it, and I got the job!

I’m now able to focus on my dreams and would say, do it, go and do it for anyone thinking about doing the programme! Never have a stigma about personal development programmes, they are there to help and support you and having Creche facilities at Picton gave me 2 hours to focus on myself!

I’ve suggested the programme to my mum and my sister, because it’s finally made me realise that I’m not the only one who has problems in life."

Natalie has since gone on to work for an accountancy firm and we're so proud of the achievements she has made and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors!

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme or to book a place, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

'I never knew change was possible, until I changed' - Meet Our 'Change It' Graduate, Sarah...

Change it: Progress to Success has been supporting women around Liverpool to develop their confidence, believe in their own abilities and simply make that change to look forward to a successful future. 

As we continue to help women reach their full potential, we love to hear from the women who have graduated from the programme, like our recent Change it graduate Sarah, who today has shared her story on what her journey through Change it was like... 

"I moved over to the lovely shores of Liverpool eight years ago from the hustle and bustle of Dublin, so I guess I that was quite life changing but in other ways Liverpool really is home from home. I am thirty-three, I have three cats and one daughter so I’m the cat lady of Old Swan.

I had plodded on with dead end jobs for years and if I am honest having a career, a proper career, had not entered my head as I never thought someone like me could have that sort of life…that is until Change It came along and just at the right time if I am honest.

I had been involved with Stoney Croft Children’s Centre in Old swan since Lucy, my daughter was born and having this community family saved my life in lots of ways. I knew I wanted something more than being a mum, of course I know the mum role is important, but I just felt empty... if that makes sense, I suppose I believed a good job would just come my way, it never entered my head that one day I would have the confidence to go and make that happen for myself.

No-one can prepare you for the loneliness that comes hand in hand with being a single mum and the staff at Stoney Croft just lifted me and Lucy up and made everything that was good possible. In-fact it was during a nurture training program that Gill mentioned the Change It Program and that’s when my life completely changed.

The best thing for me about Change It is the fact that it does exactly what it says on the tin. Gives you confidence, helps you challenge negative beliefs, become more assertive and more importantly made me focus on who I really wanted to become.

Six months later I am on route to my dream job -becoming a social worker. I have a plan for the first time ever in my life and I am sticking to it. Through the help of Mandy, I was assessed at Adult Learning Services to see where I was at with my English and Maths and through them I will be aiming for my Access Course in social care then onto John Moores University to study BA Hons in Social Work. Who would have thought that I could achieve anything as grand as that?  

If I am honest it was after the first session I felt an 'OMG' moment that a new life was possible no-one had ever spoke to me in this way in a way that they believed I could change and if the trainer believed it, then what was stopping me from believing in myself. 

I started to look forward to the sessions every Thursday and having the creche at the centre really helped with all the women, free creche is such a rarity these days. I was in a group where we were all in the same boat. We had all become stuck in a rut watching daytime TV and getting involved with petty dramas of life.

Every Thursday I used to get dressed up and ready to learn more personal development training to change the way I think and believe about myself. I never believed that single mums could have it all and guess what you can.

I have goals now. Mandy asked us, ‘What does success look like to you?’ That’s when I had a light bulb moment, success to me was a good job as in a career, a lovely home, good friends, money in the bank and feeling happy inside. With this idea of success in mind we planned to go get it. It wasn’t rocket science it was just a plan a goal and this has given me unbelievable focus.

I react differently to problems now and tackle them head-on and I don’t brush them under the carpet. I am assertive in everyday situations and it works, I get a good result without any anger. I am a lot happier because I am confident in my own skin and I know that I can be a positive role model for my daughter.

Its made changes in so many aspects of my life, I had to give a presentation in my GCSE English class and I smashed it. Changing the way, I think has changed everything. I won’t say its been easy its been challenging to say the least …but nothing worth having comes easy that’s what my mum says to me.

If any mum is thinking about this course then I would say, ‘What have you got to lose …it will open the door to a new life, look at me if I can do it so can you'"

Thank you Sarah for sharing your amazing story!

We have a number of Change it programmes going on around Liverpool and we have recently added some new dates:

Life Rooms, Walton - Wednesday 4th July 2018 (5 sessions)

54 St James Street - Tuesday 7th August 2018 (4 sessions)

54 St James Street - Wednesday 19th September 2018 (4 Sessions)

Dingle Childrens Centre -Thursday 20th September 2018 (8 sessions)

Everton Childrens Centre - Monday 8th October 2018 (5 Sessions)

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme or to book a place, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.