Braid:

Braid Women’s Group meets on Wednesdays at Sure Start St Matthews from 11 am to 1 pm.

The sessions will be running until the end of December 2010.

The sessions are informal - asylum seeker, refugee and other newly arrived women meet to share and learn arts and crafts skills.

The group is open to new members. Alongside the arts and craft activities a midwife and other health and support professionals run health awareness sessions and offer advice

Soft Touch works in partnership with Assist and Sure Start to run the group with funding from The
 Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation

 Participant’s comments:

"I go to other classes, but it is just me and a computer or me and the teacher and books.  But, here I get a personal touch and personal attention and we can discuss anything and everything. The midwives and the nurses come while we do art and we get special help. This group teaches us a lot, new skills and also that we are important and it makes us feel better about ourselves, we make each other happy -  it’s good to get away from our sadness, turmoil and devastated lives."

"I like to learn new things and this is a good place and good people who help me and make me feel better because I’ve lost so many people in my life, my mum, my dad, my sisters and my baby, and coming here doesn’t make me feel so alone and sad."

Health Professional’s comment:

"They have a great support network here and it’s very welcoming of women, whatever culture, it’s comfortable.  And also, they don’t have to come every week, but they know when they come they’ll get that really warm welcome.  There’s something about women getting together … especially vulnerable women.  They’ve really been able to bond, it’s been fantastic."

"They can focus, it’s time for them, the creche is here.  From my point of view – women together, childbearing women – I’ve done pregnancy tests, preconceptual care, chats about labour, a lot of feeding support. We’ve accessed something here which is a bit of a goldmine."