July 3, 2014

We Can Do It

Last Friday saw the families and supporters of the Women’s Turnaround group gathered at the Isis Centre in Kirkdale to celebrate the success of the Education program they run with Manchester College.

Brookside and Shameless actress Tina Malone also stopped by to talk about her own achievements, and to reinforce the message that anything is possible, and inspire them to ‘keep dreaming, learning and achieving’. The room erupted into applause as Tina talked about overcoming her battles with alcohol, an issue that resonated with many in the audience.

Service Manager Sharon Cooper kicked off proceedings and described the scheme as ‘enabling and supporting women with tools to change their lives’, and after listening to the so many remarkable stories from the women who use the centre, it was clear that the team achieve that and more. Lead probation worker Nikki Sofia added: ‘We want probation to feel like an opportunity. Here at Women’s Turnaround, it might start off as a sentence but we really want the women to have a sense of ownership.

We offer a safe space for everyone, from the women themselves right down to their partners and families, and now we can offer qualifications with accreditation too.’

The courses have been running since April and are run by Mark Soady, of The Manchester College, which provides a comprehensive package of services for learners in custody and the community, enabling progression into education, training and employment.

Mark, who has adopted a flexible approach, in which he tailors courses to meet the women’s needs, says he is overwhelmed by the response from the women. “It is unbelievable and is probably the most rewarding work I have ever done,” he said.