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Women's Fund for Scotland awards £22,500

Fri 5 Mar 2010

Women's groups all over Scotland are preparing for events to celebrate the 100th International Women's Day on Monday (8 March). With funding from the Women's Fund for Scotland - administered by the Scottish Community Foundation - a wide range of activities have been arranged across Scotland to celebrate womanhood.

Groups based in Cumbernauld, Dingwall, Dundee, Galashiels, Glasgow, Isle of Lewis, Lerwick and Perth have been awarded grants to host a variety of events focusing on educating and empowering women.

Lerwick based Shetland Women’s Aid were awarded £2,000 to run a full day of workshops and activities which explore how local women have shaped Shetland. The day will be capped with Women Have Talent, a showcase of 20 local women singing, storytelling and demonstrating various crafts.

Organiser, Claire Jamieson, said: “We want the day to be a celebration of women living in Shetland; to give them recognition for all of the things they add to the community. Under this umbrella of positivity will be a forum for women to discuss the issues that affect them.

“People are often concerned about speaking out in small communities, so we want to provide useful information about where they can seek confidential help and support locally. This year, the focus is on domestic abuse and violence.”

The Shetland Women’s Aid event will be held at Boat Hall, Shetland Museum from 11am on Monday 8 March 2010. 

Beth Edberg, chair of the Women's Fund for Scotland, said: “The Women’s Fund for Scotland has been funding International Women’s Day events since 2003. Every year I’m delighted to see Scottish community groups giving world issues, for example sustainable living and fair trade, meaning by putting them in a local context.”

The Women's Fund for Scotland - established in 2002 - has been dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls across the country. Since its launch, over £1m has been raised by the fund, largely thanks to the Scottish Government. Over 500 awards have been made to projects stretching from the Highlands and Islands to the Scottish Borders. To find out more about the Women's Fund for Scotland, visit www.scottishcf.org/womensfund

Ends

Media Contact

Nadine Urquhart, Scottish Community Foundation, 0131 524 0304

Notes to editors

1. Full list of awards 

Project Award Description
Be Yourself, Perth £400 To run IWD activities promoting health, education and personal development.
Borders Independent Advocacy Service, Galashiels £2,960 To bring together 100 women from across the Scottish Borders to take part in workshops focusing on improving emotional well being and raising awareness of local support services.
CKUK, Glasgow £5,000 To cover the cost of a ‘Girls Day In’ event to provide a day’s celebration of positive image of women with learning difficulties in the 21st Century.
Dundee Fair Trade Forum £625 To part fund a festival of fashion, film, food and stories from around the world. The focus will be on the skills and achievements of women locally and globally, with particular reference to fair trade.
Highland One World Group, Dingwall £3,900 The theme for their IWD conference will be ‘women managing on less.’ Activities will include healthy cooking from cheap cuts of meat, reusing/recycling clothes, home crafts and other ways to live more sustainably.
Menzieshill Community Centre, Dundee £1,200 To pay for specialist tutors, materials and part of the cost of printing a brochure for their two week International Women's Day festival.
Shetland Women’s Aid, Lerwick £2,000 To showcase the social, economic and creative contributions that women have made to Shetland life over the years.
Time for Us, Cumbernauld £2,000 To pay for an event that will promote healthy living and learning opportunities for marginalised women.
Western Isles Women’s Aid, Isle of Lewis £2,768 To hold an event focused on coping with stress and healthy living.
Women Together, Glasgow £1,802 The event will be held in partnership with Greater Pollok Integration Network which supports asylum seekers and refugees. The day will be used to recruit women to join both organisations.
Total £22,655  

About the Scottish Community Foundation

The Scottish Community Foundation is Scotland’s busiest grant-maker. We distribute approximately £3.5M annually to exceptional projects on behalf of our clients. Our in-depth knowledge of the charitable sector ensures our clients’ giving has the most positive local impact.