Women's centre showcases activities

9:20am Saturday 19th July 2008

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A CENTRE for disadvantaged women in Kidderminster has showcased its activities.

ASHA Wyre Forest, in Hurcott Road, helps disadvantaged women by providing education, activities and counselling.

The centre, which opened in 2006, gives the women who attend an opportunity to share their experiences and talk about their problems, including domestic violence, racial abuse and poverty.

The members showed off clothes they had made on a tailoring course and certificates were handed out to women who had produced the best work.

Women are referred to ASHA by bodies such as social services and GPs. Staff at the centre then assess their needs and provide the appropriate support and activities.

Maz Ramzan, manager of the centre, said: “All the members enjoyed the day and they gained a lot from it.

“We had a really good turnout, with more than 40 women there, and they all had a chance to talk about how the centre has helped them and what they have gained from attending.

“We aim to give them the opportunity to progress so they can integrate and go back into the community with confidence.”

She added she wanted ASHA to expand in the future and achieve more.

She explained: “We have limited space at the moment, so we want to move to a bigger building.

“We have achieved so much in a short space of time but we want to go even further and help more women get their lives back on track.”