WCI Blayney Blades Women’s Group

Description

Blayney Blades Women’s Group are based in Castleblayney Co. Monaghan and have been in operation for 30 years. We are a registered Charity and have a Board of Management with Directors who meet on a monthly basis. Our audited accounts are submitted to the CRO. Blayney Blades are committed to promoting the Holistic Development of women and their families so that they may develop their own potential and play an active role in their communities. Our main aim continues to promote and support the educational, emotional, and social development of women and their families through community development principles and practices. This is delivered through all our courses/events and ongoing classes in the local community and the wider area. In 2011 we joined the Women’s Collective Ireland along with 16 other women’s groups. We have maintained our own traditional Blayney Blades name as that is what we are best known as but include WCI Blayney Blades as a national part of work.

Aim of Initiative

To meet regularly at least once a week. We also look at the physical and mental well-being and target our classes and events to what the group like. From the social perspective we aim to keep the group engaged and encourage them to take a friend along who otherwise might not come.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative is aimed at Older People living in our communities. We focus mainly on targeting people who are lonely and isolated and who tend not to join things. We have a large member group but are always aware of the people who do not engage.

3 Steps critical to success

1. 1.To encourage new women to join our group. To welcome while making them feel safe.
2. 2.To communicate and advertise our classes and events while encouraging new members to come along
3. 3.To advocate the Age Friendly Projects while highlighting the businesses and communities who have received Age Friendly Status. This includes making their premises or any other place accessible to older people and have become an Age Friendly space.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. 1.One of the main challenges is usually accessibility but we are so lucky to be housed in a purpose built Community Centre which caters for older people and people with disabilities.
2. 2. A challenge can also be of getting the information out to the target group. Blayney Blades use the local newspaper, local radio, parish bulletin, posters, facebook and our newest one instagram. We still find some people say they were not aware of some of our events so for this reason we are always trying to improve on our visibility
3. 3.To highlight the issues that affect older People in our communities. To highlight them in our towns and villages and work with other agencies and the businesses in the area to improve accessibility.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. 1.That more people come along and see for themselves the real benefit of being part of a community group. To showcase the work we have done to date and use our Health and Well-being class as a very clear example.
2. 2.To secure some funding to enable Blayney Blades communicate the good work we have been doing in our local community and the wider area for thirty years.
3. 3.To advocate the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the volume of work being delivered by Blayney Blades through the support of Monaghan Age Friendly. This work could not be completed without the support of our volunteers.