WIREDGOV

Funding to tackle poverty in communities.

A charity that helps women from some of Scotland’s poorest communities become entrepreneurs has been awarded £200,000 from the Scottish Government.

The funding will make it possible for WEvolution to employ new staff and establish more Self-Reliant Groups in Scotland, giving groups of women the chance to come together, develop enterprising ideas and learn new skills.

Since the project was established in 2013, 15 groups across Glasgow, Inverclyde, Edinburgh and Dundee have been set up, with plans for a further 20 new groups.

The existing groups include the Provanmill Self-Reliant Group whose eight members raised finance to set up a lunch club, which then generated enough income for a community laundry. Other enterprises include the Maryhill Self-Reliant Group with members creating home furnishings to sell.

The announcement comes ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8.

In Glasgow visiting WEvolution’s new local hub, Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment Marco Biagi met women who have set up micro-businesses. He said:

“WEvolution is an example of the type of project that we want to see flourish in Scotland.

“It is working with women in some of our most disadvantaged communities and giving them the skills and confidence to become entrepreneurs.

“These self-reliant women fit in with our belief that Scotland’s people are our greatest asset. Their determination, skill and creativity in generating their own incomes is helping to bring their local areas out of poverty.

“It is particularly fitting to visit WEvolution and hear from these entrepreneurial women ahead of International Women’s Day which is a time to reflect on the achievements of women around the world and promote gender equality.”

WEvolution was created through a Church of Scotland initiative. The Church has made £200,000 available to WEvolution which has gone towards ‘WeeChange’, a Microfinance Initiative which offers interest free loans of up to £2,000 to the groups.

Jim Spowart, Chair of WEvolution said:

“We are grateful to the Scottish Government for their support which allows WEvolution to continue its excellent work in communities that are called deprived but nonetheless are rich with people who are looking for ways to move on in life.”

Claire Dennet a member of the newly formed Greenock Self-Reliant Group said:

“Being a part of our SRG has given me confidence and a whole new outlook on what we have the ability to accomplish.”

Notes To Editors

In partnership with the Glasgow Caledonian University, WEvolution is part-funding a Ph.D research on the Self-Reliant Group approach and its impact on health and wellbeing of women in SRGs.

The local hub for connecting, learning new skills and creating products and services in Anderston, Glasgow has been recently opened in partnership with In the Making Glasgow. Similar WEvolution hubs are being planned in Inverclyde, Edinburgh and Dundee.

In Edinburgh for the first time, men have also come together to form a self-reliant group.

The model takes its inspiration from the self-help group (SHG) model in India which is currently empowering some 100 million women economically and socially.

More information is available at: http://www.wevolution.org.uk