Project: Raise WCA’s Profile and infrastructure
Grant: £1,000
Fund: HoB General
Women’s Cultural Arena (WCA) exists to bring together women from different ethnicities and backgrounds for mutual recognition, support and celebration. Through events, activities and education the group provides a forum to promote self-esteem, self-confidence and cultural integration.
WCA is open to any women in the High Wycombe area, regardless of cultural or religious background. The group is particularly interested in reaching out to women from minority ethnic communities whose first language is not English and who live within a minority ethnic community in the town.
Although it is a fairly new group (established in 2016) and little marketing has been done prior to receiving this grant, women from several cultural and religious backgrounds are regularly taking part in their weekly sessions.
Their regular weekly sessions take place at All Saints Church, High Wycombe and focus on two areas:
- Language: Women are encouraged to speak English and to enhance their vocabulary during the sessions and are supported in this by the organisers and through active participation in practical activities.
- Creative Expression: Activities such as art and cookery offer cross media expression for participants and encourage sharing and co-operation between members of the group.
Shanthi Wortmann (founder) says “with your help we managed to set up our CIC legal status and development our website, which has had a really positive response. We also purchased a laptop which is being used by many of our members for numerous uses, and business cards which always go out with us and help to reach many different people.
“We would like to thank you for all your professional and personal dedication which you invested in us all at WCA”
