Group work

We provide a variety of group work sessions for women, including the Freedom Programme and our Peer Support Groups.

 

Freedom Programme

The Freedom Programme is a programme that examines the roles played by attitudes and beliefs on the actions of abusive men and the responses of survivors. The aim is to help you understand and make sense of what has happened, instead of the whole experience just feeling like a horrible mess. It takes places once a week for two hours a week, over seven weeks.

 

 

Peer Support Groups

Our Peer Support Groups give women who have accessed our services and have received one to one support an opportunity to meet with other women who have had similar experience. This can be an opportunity to have a coffee and a chat, or undertake some creative activities, but all are designed to help build confidence and reduce isolation.

 

WASLER ARTS Workshops

The art workshops are one of the peer support groups we offer at WASLER, we run short- and long-term projects as well as drop-in ar­­­­­­­­­­­­­t sessions.

We believe that art has the potential to be transformative, to improve the quality of people’s lives and well-being and can aid recovery. The art workshops are a safe space to re-connect with self and others through meaningful activity and to engage in a variety of art making processes such as drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, textiles, ceramics and sound. We work with experienced Freelance Creative Practitioners and artists who are on hand to offer their guidance and encouragement.

Past projects have evolved through discussion and collaboration between WASLER’s teams, Harriet Tritton our Freelance Arts Co-ordinator and Facilitator and the women accessing support through WASLER. We have also run art workshops with the children and young people receiving support.

The values of our organisation are reflected in the art workshops which aim to empower participants through an introduction to and engagement with Women’s and Feminist Art and Socially Engaged Art.

Past groups have participated in large scale public art events such as Processions, Edinburgh 2018 and in public events supporting global campaigns such as International Women’s Day and The 16 Days of Activism, as well as showing works in private exhibitions for family, friends and WASLER’s staff.

Past projects and workshops have been made possible through the generous support of funders: Awards For All Scotland, ROSA, The William Syson Foundation

 

CEDAR (Children Experiencing Domestic Abuse Recovery) Programme

The CEDAR Programme is a unique way of working with children, young people and their mothers who have experienced domestic abuse. The programme takes place over 12 sessions with groups for children, young people and their mothers running in parallel. 

The groups provide an opportunity to explore experiences and understand feelings with an emphasis on providing fun and creative activities that keep children engaged and interacting with each other.

It is about creating a safe place for children and their mothers to help each other to find the best strategies to deal with their experiences and rebuild their lives. A key aim of the programme is to help mothers to support their children in their recovery.

 

CEDAR Referral Information

CEDAR Referral Form

 

Workshop Info & Updates

We are currently in the process of seeking funding for new arts projects.