What we do in Women’s Group
- Create a safe space to talk
- Create an atmosphere of support
- Learn about human bodies, relationships, sex, respect to other people, boundaries (public/private, saying no)
- Promote a positive approach to bodies
- Discuss current matters in the world (Black Lives Matter movement, pandemic) including those considered difficult or controversial
- Discuss safeguarding
- Celebrate life’s happy occasions but also be together in sad moments
We have about 14 female students attending Women’s Group on a regular basis supported by 3 members of PiP staff and 2 volunteers.
First things first, we set ground rules which include:
- Respect
- Being adult
- It is ok to talk about sex
- Safeguarding
- Working as a team
- Confidentiality and importantly: NO boys allowed
We then do a ‘Check-in’ with each student having space to speak and share news. We then discuss our weeks main topic, chosen by students as something affecting them at the time or relating to something happening in the news. Our session finishes with a summary and questions.
The difference we make
Womens’ Group is a safe space to talk and we aim to create an atmosphere of support, understanding and inclusion and develop friendships.
Women’s Group is important because often it can be difficult for families to talk to their adult children with learning disabilities about relationships and bodies.
It is a safe and confidential space which is important both for empowering students to speak up and supporting them to understand themselves, their rights and how to address matters of inequality and discrimination in their lives.
Student success stories
Every year PiP Women’s Group celebrate International Women’s Day. In 2021, this had to be virtual so we decided to have an online dance party after hours and shared some treats with our students. Armed with a mocktail and face mask, we danced along to Beyonce and did an Inspirational Women quiz teaching students about the great work of young women such as Greta and Malala.
Not to be outdone, PiP students made a video all about what makes them proud and what they #choosetochallenge.
How we celebrated International Women’s Day
