1. Dundee International
Women’s Centre
Public Sector Improvement Conference
Pervin Ahmad- Executive Officer

2. Dundee International Women’s Centre
(DIWC) Mission Statement:
 To address the needs of women, with an emphasis on
those from black and ethnic minority communities; to
promote and create opportunities for women's
social, political and economic inclusion and for the
advancement of education and employment.
 DIWC was established in 1969 as part of an Urban Aid
Programme.
 DIWC’s previous premises- 3 bedroom ground floor flat in
Lyon Street, Dundee
 DIWC started as part of the YWCA then separated in 2004
 Moved to Manhattan Works in 2006 to a purpose built
community centre

3. The Centre today...

4. Why do women come to the
centre?
‘Women Only’
We work with women with sometimes complicated cultural/religious/gender
issues, where being ‘Women only’ is crucial
‘Culturally/Religiously Sensitive’
We work with women who may feel uncomfortable, not understood and
scared to interact with mainstream community orgs/services
‘Community Trust’
Our biggest strength is the trust local ethnic and immigrant communities
have in us
Statistics on
the women
we have
Quotes from Members: worked with
in 2010
 ‘a safe place to meet’
 ‘I was very lonely before I first came here’
 ‘I felt very isolated when I came to Dundee
(DIWC) helped my confidence’

5. How DIWC Services developed...
 Classes- informal and qualifications
 Recreational activities
 Social Groups- over 50’s, youth group,
mums group

6. How DIWC Services developed...
 Volunteering programme
 Student and work placement support

7. How DIWC Services developed...
 Translation/ Interpretation
 Information and advice service
 Advocacy and One to one
support in a wide range of issues
including, financial struggles,
domestic violence, forced
marriage, mental ill health

8. How DIWC Services developed...
 Employment training and support
 Social enterprise Childcare service
 Social enterprise catering services

9. Social Enterprise...
Create training Create a business
Social which can skill which can employ Enterprise
Aim beneficiaries into beneficiaries and
employment create a profit
DIWC’s Social
Enterprises