As well as offering one to one support for 20 weeks, we have other support options which give women space to come together in groups to support one another, learn more about their healing journey or take part in new activities.
Women’s voices, skills and gifts are at the heart of everything we do at The Women’s Centre Cornwall.
Women who have been through support have the opportunity to attend our Hear My Voice training and then join our Lived Experience Group.
Our lived experience groups are central to the ongoing development of our organisation and opportunities include:
Working with us to design new services and review and improve what we are currently doing.
Being supported to take part in research and consultations.
Working with us on campaigns, awareness raising and activism.
“We are not just a tick box. We are heard. We give our side of our experiences. I could never have believed I could have gone from that child to being here. Our roots are growing and coming up above ground.”
The Sorella Peer Support Project is a partnership between The Women’s Centre Cornwall, Trevi Women and Devon Rape Crisis.
Sorella means sister, a woman who sees your power and understands that you are the expert in your life. The Sorella Project is designed to be the next step after support and is open to any woman who has been through our Specialist Support Service for support around sexual violence.
If you are referred into the Sorella project, you will be matched with a woman who has also been through some form of sexual violence. She will be with you as you identify the next steps in your journey. She will stand alongside you as you connect with other women, encourage you to access empowering resources & training and offer you activities that support your wellbeing.
It is now recognised that the trauma of violence and abuse affects not only the mind and emotions but profoundly affects the body too: often "the body remembers what that mind cannot".
Women can sometimes feel disconnected from their body or experience a range of physical responses including chronic pain, recurrent infections and auto-immune disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.
We are sometimes able to offer different types of Body Work to women after they have finished support;
Sound Therapy, Massage, Reflexology, Emotional Freedom Technique, Healing Art, Eco-Therapy including Forest Bathing, Walking Groups.
After 27 years of experience supporting women and girls, we know the power of women sitting in circle together.
We have been privileged to see many women connect with each other, know they are not alone and make lifelong friendships! We have created the following Group Work programmes which we offer to women who have been through support. They offer safe, nurturing spaces in which women can explore the impact of abuse in their lives, feel empowered and move forward. The programmes run intermittently and are subject to funding.
POWER: Programme of Women's Empowerment and Recovery – A 14-week group work programme for survivors of sexual violence and abuse
Pattern Changing: A 14-week programme for survivors of domestic abuse
An external evaluation in 2018 found that our group work programmes have led to better mental health and wellbeing, reduced isolation, improved relationships with family and friends, and some women interviewed even said the group work had been life-saving.
Please email admin@womens centrecornwall.org.uk for more information on our Group Work programmes.
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