YWCA LIVINGSTON

YWCA Livingston provides education, information and advice to girls and young women in the Livingston area.

Centre Opening Hours
9:00am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday

Girls’ Clubs
All YWCA services are aimed at supporting the local community with the main emphasis being on improving the quality of life of women and girls in the 9 – 30 age groups. Most project work is concerned with issues relating to social exclusion. The services provided encourage and support the development of practical and social skill, give access to advice and support services, and are aimed at improving life styles and raising expectations.

YWCA Livingston Girls’ Clubs are the longest standing such clubs in YWCA Scotland. The clubs offer activities to enhance young women’s skills and self-confidence, exploring issues such as self-esteem, confidence building, body image and personal safety. Three clubs: Junior (Age 9 – 12 years), Intermediate (13– 16 years) allow the girls to explore the issues most relevant to their age group. Junior club programmes are designed to expand practical skills, consider healthy living options, dealing with anti-social behaviour and developing social skills thus raising the self esteem of members. The Intermediate Girls Group cover issues relevant to the member’s status as young women as opposed to that of the less mature role of the younger girls. Recent projects have included Smoking Prevention Training, working with workers from Edinburgh Women’s Aid on developing leaflet on dating abuse.

Young Women
A weekly group provides advice and information, parenting skills training and peer support for young women with childcare responsibilities. All attendees are between 19 and 30+ years and many have no support network from partners or family members. The group aims to provide the young women with the necessary skills to be a confident carer and to provide greater awareness of available external support. Since January 09 This group have taken part in 10week Keep Fit project, Dosh Course, Driving Theory Course, Smoking Prevention Training, Volunteering, Fundraising and Get Cooking Project.

Summer Playscheme
The summer playscheme, which runs for three weeks in July, offers quality child-care and a variety of activities for over 50 children aged 4 -12 years, enabling women to work over the school break. Over 93 adults and 162 children attend the weekly outings, which for many single parent families are their only outings. Whilst the provision of childcare in isolation is not part of the remit of the organisation most work with young women obviously involves the welfare of children. A survey carried out during the project established that this service was a main support to single parents, working mothers and low-income families. While providing excellent and low cost childcare during the long summer holidays the playscheme also fosters the development of family relationships in a fun, informal setting through the weekly outings. The survey showed that the weekly family outings enabled families, unable to afford a holiday, to get an affordable break and spend quality time together.

Drop In Service - Information Service
YWCA Livingston was established as a drop-in centre offering friendship and support to women moving into Livingston new town in 1979. Thirty one years on, the centre is still delivering a wide range of services and support spanning generations of women and girls in the area. The drop in service which provides friendship support, a listening ear and access to advice is available to everyone in the local community.

Local Councillors Surgery
Councillor Frank Anderson, West Lothian Council representative for Craigshill, holds a weekly surgery in the Neighbourhood House at 31 Canberra Street; the house is situated in a central location in Craigshill and has easy access via a ramp for both disabled users and parents with buggies. This service is used regularly by Craigshill constituents and is much appreciated.

Membership
We welcome everyone who shares our commitment to our values and principles to join us as members. Members’ benefits include reduced fees for classes, monthly ebulletins, opportunities to sit on our local advisory committee or National Board of Directors, an invitation to our AGM, access to international training and representation opportunities. Membership rates are: £12.00 waged £3.00 unwaged.

Volunteering
Volunteers provide the centre with a strong community foundation, new ideas and invaluable support. If you have a few hours to spare every week or month and would like to help us deliver our services we would be pleased to hear from you. There are all sorts of skills we could benefit from so please don’t feel restricted by what we currently offer. Your ideas and skills may be just what we are after. Travel expenses are met and relevant training is offered to all volunteers as detailed in our Volunteering Policy.

Volunteering Opportunities
We offer volunteering opportunities in the following areas:

• Youth/Girls’ work
• Crèche and playscheme work
• Fundraising
• Events and Publicity
• Practical work such as gardening
• Training and tutoring – in any area of expertise
• Local Advisory Committee – help support and develop YWCA work in Livingston
• Campaigning – make your voice heard

Current Programmes and Attendance

For further information contact Belinda@ywcascotland.org