Timeline to Celebrate 1998 - 2008
First Steps Women's Centre is at least 10 years old this year. The Management Committee and staff would like to reflect back on the hard work of all those women who started the whole process.
Please scroll down to the very bottom to view photos of the staff and management committees during past 10 years. At the bottom is an old photo dating back to 1955, work men woringin winter conditions outside the premises that First Steps is now based at.
Please have a look at the information and pictures below which we have managed to collect from past users of the centre. There was very little information or back-ground history left about the centre's founder members. We hope that what information we have managed to put together is correct and if any one feels that some people have been left out please get in contact with Maria at fswc.maria@googlemail.com. This is a taster of what FSWC hopes to develop in the coming months with the help of its members both past and present.
> 1998 Women's group forges ahead:
the new centre in Feeney's
(councillor), Myrtle Hill (Queens
(Career Junction DDA), Derek
Irwin (mayor), May Blood
(Barroness), Mary Quinn, Gabriel
Collins (committee Members).
Dungannon District Women's Group realised a dream when it opened a women's centre in the town this week.. The group, which has been operating for barely over a year via Career Junction at DDA, under the watchful eye of Chris McAleer, is now based at 11 Feeney's Lane in Dungannon.
Eilish McCabe, vice-chairperson of the Women's Group Committee, said she was delighted the group finally had a base. "The opening of the centre is a major milestone in the history of Dungannon District Women's Group. We have come a long way. It was only last January that a group of women met up together to discuss the possibility of forming a group to cater for the needs of women in the area."
The centre, which will be run by volunteers, will be at the disposal of every woman in the district. The centre will continue to develop a relaxed, informal and friendly atmosphere. Eilish added, "one of the first courses we hope to begin soon is a community relations course, which will be open to women from all religious and ethnic communities."
When the group was first set up it was known as "Options for Women". Through Chris McAleer the manager of Career Junction at Dungannon Development Association (DDA) and other founder members a small grant was obtained and research began to determine what women in the area needed from a women's group. The results were very "positive."
>2003 New Home For Dungannon District Women's Group
Betty Morris, chairperson of Dungannon district
Women's Group outside new building in Thomas Street.
Dungannon District Women's Group will move to new premises at 43 Thomas Street Dungannonon Wednesday 13th August 2003. It signifies a new start for the group which has been providing women from across the Dungannon area with many opportunities in accredited and recreational programmes. Classes range from soft furnishings to computers, yoga to politics.
Betty has A levels in sociology and politics at the centre. She says "the centre gave me access to classes that I just did not feel confident enough to do at the local further education college."
Betty continued, "there is no point providing classes for women unless you can provide things like childcare and transport. The new centre will provide modern facilities in a friendly and welcoming environment."
New project co-ordinator starts on 8th September, Joanna Donaghy. Joanna will run the "Pathways to Inclusion Project" funded by the Community Foundation. All the activities have been very busy with over two hundred and fifty women taking part in a wide range of training and recreational classes.
The Committee, seeing that Joanna was doing such a great job at the centre have up-graded her post to Mangerial status. Joanna succussfully obtained up to £300 000 in funding for the next three years.
I would like to highlight some of our main events from the 27th April 2005, from which I have been chairperson, Genevieve Shields.
• In May 2005 Marion Cully (Armagh Health & Social Services) was replaced by Michael McGoldrick. He has made a major contribution to the centre, and I would like to thank him for all his time and advice given to both myself and to the other committee members.
• In May 2005 we also received our minibus, which is currently been driven by Ian Coulter to transport women from outside the area to the centre to participate in courses. This has been a very successful project undertaken by the centre. Not alone do the ladies get transported to the centre but Ian provides some entertainment in his story telling expertise on the journey.
• On the 30th June 2005 CFNI – provided us with a trip to Leinster House, in Dublin where we were met personally by Mary Henry, an excellent time was has by all, a very memorable day.
• In September 2005 I was forced due to an operation to remain absent form the centre for 8 weeks, during this time the vice chairperson Carmel Holland, took over my role, and I wish to thank her for that. I can always depend on Carmel, both on a business and personal basis.
• January 2006 – As a result of hard work at the centre Joan McCool has been advised that the centre has been successful in funding applications.
Catering Awards at Dungannon Further Education College 2005
Trip to Leinster House in Dublin 2005
Audience listening to a selection of speakers at the Conference "Our Shared Future" held in The Linen Green Complex 2006. Speakers included Bernadette McAliskey who spoke from personal experiences. The event was jointly funded by FSWC, Proteus and TWN.
>2007 Reaching out to even more women in the Dungannon
an outreach areas of Clogher Valley and Beyond
First Steps staff during a tea break at the Centre in William Street Dungannon.
In June 2007 FSWC made the move to William Street Dungannon. Little did the staff know at the time, but the organisation had come full circle. The idea for a women's centre was actually conceived and born within these walls.
William Street was the original base for 'Career Junction,' during the 1980's, which was run through the DDA and managed by Chris McAleer.
The ground for the present building was presented in 1814 by Lord Ranfurly so that a Yarn Hall could be established. Thus the "Lappin rooms" which housed 60 lapping tables each six feet long were built. Over the years the building has been up-dated with extensions added when required. You can see clearly from the following picture the old building in the background with the old window frames and yard gate.
This year has seen much progress and improvement as well as its fair share of worry. Easter saw a very uncertain time for the centre as the issue of renewed funding hung in the balance for some time. Through the dedication and hard work from Michael Mc Goldrick (FSWC manager), the staff and comittee members, this was resolved and funding was secured for the next three years.
One event which was a great success this year was funded by Strand 3 of Peace II. The 'Women Learning Together' Project was dedicated to helping women look at the legacy of the troubles and identify how to establish more positive relationships, not only between the two main traditions, but also towards the migrant communities that live and work in Dungannon.
The drama, 'What's the Craic with P & R?' allowed the participants to talk and explore their own and others experiences of life through the troubles and how far they have progressed on the road to reconciliation.
The play was created by the group in workshops and presented at a conference held in the Linen Green. It was a great success and a civic reception was held at Dungannon Council Offices to honour the Drama groups participants.
Back row; Ursula Douglas, Francis Burton, Una Mc Veigh, Noel Comac, Counciller Mulligan, Joanna Orr, Fiona Thompson, Counciller Burton, Eileen Mc Girr, Eileen Canavan. Seated; Joan Mc Cool, Mayor Morrow, Agath Hurle and Magdalen Loughran.
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