Derry Well Women has lots of good reasons to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. They were recently listed in the top 6 charities at the UK-wide GSK IMPACT awards, the Mayor hosted a civic reception for them this week, and they’ve just unveiled a Strategic Plan to take them through the next 3 years.
“We are proud of the contribution we have made to women’s health over the past 30 years,” says DWW manager Susan Gibson. “Derry Well Women is the leading women’s health centre in Derry and one of the top women’s health centres across the island.”
The Mayor Councillor John Boyle at the Derry Well Women’s AGM and 30th anniversary celebrations
The Mayor Councillor John Boyle, who was a special guest at the Derry Well Women’s AGM and 30th anniversary celebrations in The Flying Clipper, at the North West Region College, pictured with Susan Gibson, manager, Derry Well Women.
Susan added: “Since 1988, Derry Well Women has been committed to a social justice approach to addressing health inequalities for women. We advocate on behalf of women and take action on issues which affect women’s health status, such as being a mother, coping with cancer or other serious illnesses, breastfeeding, mental health and caring for others.”
“We understand that women are usually the primary carers in the home but often neglect to look after themselves. We also understand that health is about more than medical treatment. We look at the whole of a woman’s wellbeing, including their mental and emotional health.”
“To meet these broader needs, we run courses and programmes covering everything from cancer recovery, to healing therapies, from self-esteem to yoga and baby reflexology. And we offer creche facilities to help mother’s access our courses.”
Susan says the centre covers 5 main areas of work: “We support women living with cancer with our Well Programme, cancer counselling, a support group and counselling for relatives. Our 8-week Well Programme has had a hugely positive impact on those who have taken part.”
“We promote positive Mental Health through counselling, anxiety and depression programmes and mindfulness classes. We support Mother’s & Babies with ante natal classes, with support groups on breastfeeding and post natal depression, and courses like baby massage and paediatric first aid.”
“We promote self-care and self-improvement for women with e.g. reflexology, podiatry, therapeutic singing. And we offer specialist support on issues such as eating disorders, living with MS and trauma counselling.”
Derry Well Women 30th Anniversary Civic Reception
Measuring the Impact
In order to continue to grow and change, Susan says they had to work out how effective their services were in the first place. “We measure the impact of our services using psychometric tests which show improvements in physical, mental and emotional health, behaviour lifestyle and reliance on health services. Improvements can be as high as 28% or more by the end of an individual programme or course.”
Pioneering and innovative approach
Derry Well Women started as an idea among a group of friends who weren’t happy with the care they received. Susan says they “began to dream about developing a women’s health centre. Work began in 1988 and our door on Queen Street opened in November 1989 so that dream has become a reality.”
Susan says the centre has taken an innovative approach to health inequality for women. “We were the first to provide generic, woman centred free counselling in Derry. We were to the fore in the development of community-based services for cancer and for eating disorders services. We provide the only menopause clinic here and we support women directly affected by the Troubles.”
“Derry Well Women has created and continues to provide pioneering programmes such as The Well Programme for women living with cancer, Minding Your Mind for women with early onset dementia, and Namaste – a programme for carers of end of life dementia patients.”
“Over 30 years, we have been there for times of change and we have led change. The current economic climate has brought devastating change to and challenges for women generally and for the women’s sector in Ireland. Derry Well Women will continue to meet these challenges and has set out its vision for the next 3 years in its new Strategic Plan 2018-2021.”
To find out more about Derry Well Women services you can check out their website www.derrywellwoman.org . To make enquiries or to book appointments, please call 02871360777 or email [email protected] .
You can also catch up with Derry Well Women on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Derry-Well-Women-361552637250770/ or on Twitter @derrywellwomen
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