The United Women Affiliation
In honour of World Mental Health Day, we're highlighting The United Women Affiliation, an incredible group that we've recently supported and the transformative effects they've had on the mental health of their community members.
Who are the The United Women Affiliation?
The United Women Affiliation (UWA) is a charity based in Sheffield. Their goal is to enhance the health and social wellbeing of underprivileged women and girls from marginalised and minoritised backgrounds through increasing self-help, educational awareness, and training (outreach and meetings). UWA aims to improve confidence, build resilience, empower service users to support their long-term mental and physical health conditions, improve social skills, build a capacity for employment, and reduce isolation.
Initially starting as a community group in 2019, the charity was established in 2020 in response to the increasing inequality of women and girls' access to essential health, social, and educational services due to language barriers.
The knowledge that we obtain here which is tailored to our needs, culturally and socially we feel so great and we will always come here to learn and understand.
The United Women Affiliation group testimony
The Impact of the Funding
UWA received funding that was utilised to support various activities through a sessional worker, including talking therapy, counselling, peer support, individual coping support for stigma, discrimination, and domestic abuse, GP escort support services, group meetings to learn new skills and build confidence, and outreach support services to families with disabilities or caring responsibilities.
Overall, the project improved the quality of life for the beneficiaries by assisting with language barriers, increasing digital skills, and building the capacity of service users. UWA provides essential educational services, reduces isolation and loneliness, and builds confidence and resilience within the community.
Since I started coming here three years now am telling you my confidence is improved I don’t need interpreter for my hospital appointment now. I had issues with my child at school and I didn’t know what to do because my English not good I was afraid to go to school to speak to the teachers.....I was given a counsellor and my child was later transferred to another school and she is happy and doing very well. Thank you UWA. I can manage my mental health well now.
The United Women Affiliation participant
