West End Women and Girls Centre launches 40th anniversary project

To mark the occasion, the centre is launching 40 Women and Girls - a landmark project featuring stories and photographs of 40 women and girls who have been instrumental in their communities and the living history of the centre.

West End Women and Girls Centre has been a vital part of the local community in the West End of Newcastle since 1981. Last year, 10,411 women and girls accessed the centre; over 566 sessions and 40 community events were attended by more than 2,500 women, girls and their families. Five generations of families hold membership.

Centre Coordinator, Huffty McHugh said, “As we reach this milestone, we want this project to shine a light on the often unnoticed, underrepresented and undervalued contribution of women and girls, marking the significant role they play in their communities. Women have been proportionally more disadvantaged by 10 years of austerity and are now also proportionally more disadvantaged by COVID-19; they are trapped in dangerous situations, are often the main care-givers and bear the brunt of the hits to the economy. Yet as we have seen again and again, women create community, and the centre is a symbol of the collective power of these women and girls. It is important that the project will reflect and do justice to the women and girls of our community.”

40 Women and Girls is supported through Newcastle City Council’s Artists in Residence programme. Writer Catrina McHugh MBE and photojournalist Phyllis Christopher have been commissioned to gather stories and portraits, and the project will be launched on International Women's Day 2021 with a book, an exhibition and a large-scale projection of the images on the building.

Huffty explains, "We are looking for women and girls who have made a difference, championed the centre and become inspirational role-models through our 40 years. We want to light up our building in 2021 for our 40th anniversary with the photographs and stories of 40 women and girls at the heart of the Girls Club. We are looking for 40 women and girls who have been the heartbeat of our community from 1981 to 2021. They could be 5 or 95, estate matriarchs or teenage peer educators, Tuesday clubbers and now nannas. Trustees, staff, volunteers and members, past and present. We need your help to make it happen by nominating your heroes.”

To make a nomination online go to westendwomenandgirls.co.uk/40-women-and-girls or pick up a form from the Centre at 173 Elswick Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6SQ between 9:30-2:30pm Monday – Friday.

Nominations close on Monday 21 September 2020. To find out more visit westendwomenandgirls.- co.uk.