The Women’s Skills Exchange encourages women to learn and share skills and develop confidence and opportunities.

It brings women together in an active way to improve health and well-being in a welcoming environment.

Women are able to engage and develop at a pace to suit them, fitting around responsibilities of home and children, and doing as much as they are able. It brings older women and younger women together in a spirit of sharing and co-operation. It gives existing volunteers a sense of pride and satisfaction as they pass on their skills to new participants. At a personal level, the Women’s Skills Exchange develops skills and confidence, and breaks down social isolation.

The Women’s Skills Exchange is for people of all backgrounds and abilities. You may be facing challenges in your life, or living with a disability or mental health issue. Perhaps you are a single parent who wants to connect with others or try something new. Maybe you are considering changing career. Or you could be a retired professional with a particular skill to offer.

The project includes gardening and growing plants and veg, environmental conservation and beekeeping, a Women’s Shed for carpentry and construction, cooking from scratch with fresh produce, jam-making, apple-pressing and preserving and pickling, crafts, recycling and upcycling, and community events to showcase what we have grown and made.

Why not suggest an idea?
We can organise a skills share workshop and invite others to take part.

As you gain confidence, you might like to develop an enterprising idea. This could be something as simple as holding a market stand, to running a pop-up cafe at an event; window-sill micro-veg for people living in flats, or pickling and processing vegetables for year-round goodness.

As part of the project you can join our volunteer team. Existing volunteers act as Garden Companions to help newcomers settle in and learn skills.