NEWS FLASH!
STREATHAM WOMEN'S SEWING GROUP CIC
will formally cease trading on 1 December 2015
Due to our inability to secure core funding unfortunately the Group has now ceased its activities. The Board will meet to formally dissolve the CIC on 1 December.
Thank you to all our supporters and to the 180 + women who have participated in our activities since 2009.
The website will continue until the web hosting contract runs out.
Visit our 'Collaborative Arts Projects' page to read about the background to 'The Dress My Mother Wore' including images of its installation at Africa Utopia @ South Bank Centre, Horniman Museum, Streatham Food Festival, Streatham Festival, Little Big Peace Event and Sunnyhill Children's Centre
See slideshow below with images from the installation and workshops at the
Museum of Childhood, East London on 21 June (Praxis New Voices Festival).
STREATHAM WOMEN'S SEWING GROUP CIC
no. 7682408
Project Coordinators: Ifrah Odawa & Fion Gunn
Streatham Women’s Sewing Group was launched in October 2009 and its first session was held on 2 November at the Sunnyhill Children’s Centre. Sessions are currently held every Tuesday from 10-12am.
By January 2010, 46 women had signed up to attend the sessions - the average number of women attending each session is between 10-14 and in the year Sept 2012 - July 2013 alone 56 women signed up for classes. By July 2014 over 100 women have attended our classes and many continue to come back to us & keep in touch even after they have gone on to employment or other training.
Apart from learning a useful skill, for many of the women the sessions have provided valuable time for them to be with other women, to share information, to gain confidence and to have a respite from childcare. Many of them have begun to talk frequently about future aims and ask questions about how they can study and gain employment outside the home. The women also spread the word about the Group to others in their communities and we get many enquiries from women about future attendance.
We hope that the friendly and non-threatening environment of the Sewing Group will enable our members to make a first step into greater integration in British society. Our collaborative artworks give our women the opportunity to showcase their skills and to engage with the wider community at public events, they enable the wider community to learn about the lives, culture and aspirations of some of the minority communities in their midst.
Streatham Women's Sewing Group became a Community Interest Company in June 2011 and has 7 members on its Board of Directors.
We are very grateful for the support of Morley College of Further Education, Streatham Action & Lambeth Council and the wonderful Sunnyhill Children’s Centre!
PLEASE VISIT THE SPICE TENT PROJECT PAGE TO SEE IMAGES OF THE ARTWORK AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
OUR LOCATION
'Somali Feast' collaborative artwork exhibited at the Morley Gallery - Oct 2010
Sunnyhill Children's Centre (Entrance in Harborough Road)
Sunnyhill Road, Streatham
London SW16 2UW
Tel: 020 8769 4785 option 2
Centre Hours - Monday to Friday: 8.00am – 5.45pm
SWSG CIC - Tuesdays in Term Time 10am -12pm
Sunnyhill Road, Streatham
London SW16 2UW
Tel: 020 8769 4785 option 2
Centre Hours - Monday to Friday: 8.00am – 5.45pm
SWSG CIC - Tuesdays in Term Time 10am -12pm
Rachel Thomas our volunteer ESOL teacher working with Streatham Women's Sewing Group CIC.
Because language is a major impediment for many of the women in our group we are hugely grateful to Rachel who has been giving ESOL classes which have been coordinated with our sewing sessions. Thanks to Sunnyhill Children's Centre providing a creche at these times it has made a huge difference to the women who attend.
Because language is a major impediment for many of the women in our group we are hugely grateful to Rachel who has been giving ESOL classes which have been coordinated with our sewing sessions. Thanks to Sunnyhill Children's Centre providing a creche at these times it has made a huge difference to the women who attend.
Sponsored by Lambeth Borough Council in 2013
Funding from Streatham Action's Active Streatham OLF: supported by the Mayor's Outer London Fund, which is helping increase the vibrancy and growth of high street places across London.
Funding from Streatham Action's Active Streatham OLF: supported by the Mayor's Outer London Fund, which is helping increase the vibrancy and growth of high street places across London.