Our story started over 40 years ago in both Calderdale and Kirklees where two organisations Calderdale Well Woman Association and Womenspace were set up to support local women. In 2008 the organisations merged creating WomenCentre as we know it today.
WomenCentre, is a pioneering charity dedicated to supporting women with a focus on prevention, intervention recovery and empowerment providing services predominantly across Calderdale and Kirklees but with some in Bradford. Poem by Freda Davis- Founder Member
Women we support!
Since its founding, the organisation has evolved into a transformative spaces for women from all backgrounds, helping over 3000 women each year to overcome challenges, rebuild their lives, and strengthen their communities. In 2023/24 alone, there were over 4,880 referrals across all services providing volunteering opportunities for over 45 and now employing 80+ staff.
The Early Days
Let me take you back to the early days when the foundations for WomenCentre as we know it today were laid across Calderdale and Kirklees.
Calderdale Well Woman Association. In Calderdale a group of local women connected through a children’s nursery formed a study group focused on health, group surveyed over 200 women to assess local interest for a Well Women centre. The response was extraordinary, highlighting a deep need for a dedicated women’s health and wellbeing service. From the start an inclusive space was provided where women of all backgrounds could find support and solidarity. With a nurse on hand and a doctor twice a week, women were invited to drop in and talk about their needs.
By 1994 the organisation had grown and under a new part time manager considerable grants were secured to help establish critical advice work and a range of learning and skills courses. By 2000 a local DA service became part of WomenCentre and all services were supported by a small staff team and volunteers. Growth in all services continued with a move to a larger Hx town centre building by the early 2000’s and a significant increase in wider DA services offered.
A woman accessing the DA service wrote some poetry about her support experience. See image.
In Kirklees
Across in Kirklees Womenspace had started 40 years ago too.
It originally started as an Outreach service for Huddersfield Women’s Aid with a Domestic Abuse focus and staffed 5 days a week by volunteers and one worker in one small room in in Huddersfield. In time the service broke away from Huddersfield Women’s Aid and became a workers’ collective. There was growth in services which was welcome across the voluntary and community sector locally who valued our expertise in working with women suffering mental ill health and supporting women refugees and asylum seekers.
Outreach services grew in North Kirklees which resulted in some new local authority and lottery funding. But like many voluntary organisations, funding was not secure, and Womenspace was vulnerable. So with a supportive partnership already in place between both organisations in 2008 both organisations merged to form WomenCentre. This move has sustained the vital services offered to women in need across both districts including ground breaking and nationally recognised services supporting women
Since then, WomenCentre has served thousands of women expanding Kirklees services to promote women’s mental health and wellbeing as well as piloting Adult Sexual Exploitation services and working with girls and younger women across Calderdale and Kirklees.
This is what some women have said about their support:-
Counselling – “It has made me look at things from a different perspective. not to be too hard oneself. I found the counsellor to be very relatable and understanding, I felt very comfortable talking to her.”
Adult Sexual Exploitation – “‘I feel so happy, I have a spring in my step it feels like a weight has been lifted and I can continue my healing journey, definitely feel so much better and it is down to you and the support which has been offered”
DA services – “Coming to WomenCentre was the beginning of my journey. I feared that I am too old to make a change, that I won’t be able to keep up with the group but I now know that it is not the case. I got so much from the group and my worker and I am very grateful for what you have offered.”
At our stall at the Halifax Gala a woman quietly said: “‘I have been using your services. you have save my life”
Of course, we do not work in isolation we could not undertake any of our work without the support of the organisations and communities across the districts where we work. We are also so grateful to all our staff, volunteers, members matrons and ambassadors and wider he supporters, as well as all our funders both locally regionally and nationally.
From domestic abuse support services to women’s mental health and wellbeing services, one-to-one counselling, informal drop-in sessions for advice, guidance and emotional support, as well as initiatives to redirect women from criminal justice to health and social care pathways. Our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of women, supporting their safety and equipping them with confidence to regain control of their lives.
The celebration of this our 40th year is a significant achievement, highlighting both the demand for such support in the area and the ongoing challenges many women face. We honour Women Centre’s legacy and reflect on the organisation’s profound impact and vision for the future.
Like a Pebble
Like a Pebble dropped into a pond
The ripples run far and wide
And without Recovery
The symptoms pass on through generations
Angela Everson WomenCentre CEO
June 15th 2025 from 40th Celebration Service at Halifax Minster
