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Women Too build on community need

Report by Peter Hutcheon

The final designs for the new Windsor Women's Centre in south Belfast were unveiled last week.

A team of students architects teamed up with local charity Women Too in a unique project aimed at providing the group with plans for a much-needed new home.

All last week, students attending the European Winterschool for architects at Queen's University devoted time to the project.

And the results were revealed during a special ceremony at the group's current base in Rockview Street, attended by south Belfast MP Martin Smyth.

"Women Too has operated up to now with very few resources, but has managed to do an excellent job," said Mr Smyth.
"To convert its operation to a purpose-built centre can only be a huge boost for this part of south Belfast.
"The group has shown that local people are prepared to do a lot of work to improve their area and have shown the way to people in the rest of the city."

Women Too is a community activated, woman-driven organisation, helping regenerate the Blackstaff ward in inner-city south Belfast.

Derelict

At its small premises in Rockview Street it provides education and training for women of all ages, creche facilities and an advice centre.

The new centre will be located at Broadway in the heart of the Blackstaff ward in the Village area, on the site of five derelict houses.

The £ 250,000 development will have five classrooms, a purpose-build computer centre, a creche with an adjoining sleeping room and areas for private advice workshops.

Joy Poots, joint co-ordinator of Women Too, said they are delighted with the plans and the model for the new centre.

"Because we worked closely with the architects last week we were able to say exactly what our needs were able to come up with feasible designs," she explained.

"The project came about when the Belfast Action Tem was asked to recommend a project for the annual winter school and it suggested us."

Thursday's presentation was made by Sheelagh McManus of Matrix and Mary Kelly of Glasgow Housing Co-operatives, who helped to organise the winter school
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Local architect Susan Crowther was also involved in the planning. She has worked closely with Women Too since last year and will continue to liaise with the members through the building of the new centre.

Women Too opened Windsor Women's Centre in 1990, after the Blackstaff Community Health Profile report clearly identified a need for such a facility in the area.

As a result of the findings the Windsor Steering Group was established, made up of local people, and Women Too was an off-shoot of that committee. The two groups still work closely together.

Majella McCloskey, who worked on the health profile, believes the new centre can only serve to help the needs of the Village.

"We have worked closely with Women Too since the group started three years ago," she said.
"The area is under threat from many problems such as poor housing, poverty, unemployment and health.
"Having a new centre at Broadway in the heart of the community will be a great help."

The Rockview Street centre is a two-up, two-down house which has become too cramped for the range of services Women Too wants to offer.

Around 40 women currently use the centre on a regular basis and the creche has to cater for up to 30 children.
