Gordon Praises Work of Blackpool Women's Centre

Gordon has praised the progress of the town’s Women’s Centre in supporting women across Blackpool with their health, emotional and well-being issues since it was established eighteen months ago.

Gordon spoke after visiting the Centre’s Open Day at its base in Edward Street and talking to staff, volunteers and users of the Centre about their experiences.  ‘I have been delighted to come along to the Open Day to hear about the impressive range of help women using the Centre can get and to offer my encouragement and support for its work.’

‘There’s an increasing awareness of the problems and challenges women are having, not least in the current economic climate where in Blackpool we’re being hit harder than many other parts of the country. Only last week research from the House of Commons library has confirmed that women are twice as likely to be hit by the cuts in funding,  services and job losses –with all the knock-on effects on many of their families. The work of the Women’s Centre in Blackpool is therefore more important than ever. ‘

‘The Centre has a particular remit  to help reduce the number of women offending and help find productive ways back into society after probation but it also has a strong remit to help women after family break-downs and support them in  improving physical, mental and emotional well-being. It’s clear from the experiences that women users have told to me here that they enormously value the chance to use the Centre, its services and  advice to help get their lives back on a productive and even track with increased self-esteem.’

The statistics since the Centre was established- of nearly 600 referrals and helping women from their late teens to early seventies- residents or service users across Blackpool- are impressive testimony in themselves to the Centre’s impact. But the qualitative improvements its work has brought to the lives of the women it is helping is equally impressive.’

Mr. Marsden pledged his support for future efforts to expand the Centre’s services, including applying for potential funding for a dedicated help-line that can expand the help it can offer over and above the hours staff and volunteers are present at the Edward Street base.

Contact details for the Centre are 01253743770 or www.blackpoolwomenscentre.co.uk]