A Year Of Our Cwtch- Here’s What’s Happened And What It Looks Like.
At the beginning of 2020 we received funding from Comic Relief to kick start a venue for SPW and to create some workshops and activities to hold there. Of course Covid has put a spanner in the this, but we moved quickly and most of the workshops and social meet ups moved online. However, we did manage to hold some workshops and meet ups in our lovely ‘cwtch’. Which was named by our members and we think it is completely apt. It’s a space where single parents can meet, we can hold socials like our book club, pizza nights, games nights and a space for SPW staff and volunteers to hold meetings and work from. We really love the cosy and ‘hygge’ feel of it. When all this is over we can’t wait to see lots more happening there, as well as integrating everything online too.
We ran 33 workshops and socials that we attended by 268 single parent members. Run by over 24 Peer Leads.
Before Covid we managed to hold:
4 Mindful Mornings, where we had refreshments and did mindfulness, 19 parents attended
1 Skills exchange, 7 parents, led by a single parent, learnt how to do some DIY, and put up shelves and lights for us
2 volunteer meetings, 10 single parents attended
Then when the pandemic started we moved everything online and held the following:
6 book clubs that had 32 parents attend and we discussed and explored 6 different self development books
1 macrame workshop attended by 8 people
3 anger workshops attended by 38 parents
2 goal mapping sessions attended by 21 parents
1 resilient parenting workshop attended by 9 parents
2 Christmas online socials attended by 21 parents
2 games night socials attended by 17 parents
4 campaigners meetings attended by 20 volunteers
4 advisory group meetings attended by 23 volunteers
1 social for new members attended by 12 parents
3 calm and create sessions, attended by 31 families which then went on to shape Creativity in Covid
1 money mindset workshop has been postponed until the end of Jan
The success of this project has meant that we have been able to ask for further funding and we will go on to establish our Peer Leads, providing training and ensure that they continue to lead on providing workshops, socials and meet ups for many more single parents to come. Especially during and after this pandemic.
“Without SPW I would've had little contact with other parents over the Covid 19 period, it has made a huge difference for me and my children.”
“The book club has been great for interacting with other adults and to work on my self development. Plus it forces me to read which means it forces me to do some self care and something for me.”
“Running a skills exchange sessions meant that I felt empowered to pass on my skills.”
“So lovely and funny last night, thank you so much for organising socials.”
“It was great to see workshops being set up based on what we had been discussing in the Facebook Group.”
Let’s take a look around, in this small space we really thought out everything that we wanted to include.
Long table for lots of people
Lots of crafts to keep children entertained
A refreshment area for teas and coffees
Community library with lots of self development books and children’s books
Positivity wall with lots of affirmations
Cosy and comfy chairs and decoration
Lots of plants
Calming environment
We are hoping to welcome lots more single parents back to our Cwtch in the future, but for now check out what online socials and workshops are running in our member area.