A new chapter in Diversity House’s work with women and girls across Swale
Every community has women and girls with enormous potential — but potential does not always come with equal opportunity.
For some, language can be a barrier. For others, it may be poverty, isolation, poor mental health, digital exclusion, domestic abuse, migration or a lack of access to education and employment opportunities.
These challenges can overlap, making it difficult to know where to turn or how to take the next step.
This is why CWGIE Evolution exists.
Led by Diversity House, CWGIE Evolution is a three-year project supporting women and girls across Swale, with plans to extend the approach into Medway as the project develops.
At its heart is a simple belief:
When women and girls are supported to thrive, communities become stronger.
Building on what we have learned
CWGIE Evolution is funded through the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund, and builds on the work of the Centre for Women and Girls Innovation and Empowerment (CWGIE), which has been operating since October 2022.
The project has grown from listening to women and girls and understanding what they need to overcome barriers and build greater independence.
Since its inception, CWGIE has provided thousands of opportunities for people to access support, develop skills, build confidence and connect with their communities.
The experience has also shown us that empowerment is rarely about addressing one issue in isolation.
Someone may need help with benefits or housing while also learning English. A woman experiencing isolation may need wellbeing support alongside opportunities to develop skills. A young girl may need a safe space, encouragement and trusted adults around her as she builds confidence for the future.
CWGIE Evolution brings these different strands together.
What is CWGIE Evolution?
CWGIE Evolution is a community-led, intersectional and trauma-informed project designed to support women and girls at different stages of their lives.
Rather than providing a single service, the project creates a range of opportunities where women and girls can connect, learn, develop, participate and lead.
Our activities include:
One Stop Advice Shops
Our One Stop Advice Shops bring together organisations and specialist services so women can access advice and support in one place.
Support can cover areas including benefits, debt, housing, employment, rights, domestic abuse and health and wellbeing.
This partnership approach helps make support easier to access and more joined-up.
ESOL, Life Skills and Wellbeing
Learning and wellbeing are central to empowerment.
Our activities provide opportunities for women and girls to develop communication and life skills, build confidence and strengthen their wellbeing.
These sessions are also about connection — creating spaces where people can meet others, build relationships and feel part of their community.
Digital Skills and Inclusion
Digital skills are increasingly important in almost every area of modern life.
CWGIE supports women and girls to build their digital confidence and reduce the barriers that digital exclusion can create.
Peer Mentoring and Leadership
We believe lived experience is a strength.
CWGIE Evolution creates opportunities for women to develop mentoring and leadership skills so they can support others and play a greater role in their communities.
During Year 1, 30 women are being supported through peer mentoring and leadership training.
Men as Allies
Creating greater gender equality cannot be the responsibility of women and girls alone.
Our Men as Allies initiative creates opportunities for men to understand gender equality and play an active role in positive change.
The initiative is being launched during Year 1 with 50 participants.
Creating opportunities for girls
Girls are an important part of CWGIE Evolution.
The project recognises that the experiences we have when we are young can influence our confidence, wellbeing, education and opportunities later in life.
That is why CWGIE creates safe and supportive opportunities for girls aged 10–18, including academic support, life skills, leadership and opportunities to connect with trusted adults.
We want girls to develop the confidence to imagine futures beyond the barriers they may currently face.
To ask:
What are my strengths?
What are my ambitions?
What could I become?
And, most importantly:
What would it take to get there?
A project shaped by the people it serves
One of the most important things about CWGIE is that women and girls are not simply recipients of services.
They help shape them.
CWGIE was co-designed with local women during the pandemic, and participant advisory panels continue to provide opportunities for women to influence services.
This principle of co-production runs throughout the project — from design and delivery through to evaluation.
It means listening to people’s experiences, learning from them and being prepared to adapt.
As Diversity House puts it, participants are the “co-pilots” of CWGIE.
Meeting people where they are
Not everyone can easily access services.
For some women, transport may be a barrier. For others, language, childcare, cultural expectations, digital exclusion or previous experiences with services may make it difficult to engage.
CWGIE therefore takes an outreach approach.
Our philosophy is:
Don’t wait for people to come to you. Go to where they are.
The project uses community outreach, bilingual staff and resources, women-only spaces, flexible delivery and both face-to-face and online engagement to make participation more accessible.
This is particularly important in a diverse area such as Swale, where women’s experiences and circumstances can be very different.
Rooted in Swale
CWGIE Evolution is rooted in our local communities.
The CWGIE Hub is based in Sittingbourne, with outreach extending into Sheerness and Faversham.
The project is designed to reach women and girls across different communities, including those living in coastal and rural areas.
As the project develops, there are plans to extend the CWGIE approach into Medway, creating new opportunities for women and girls who may benefit from this community-led model.
We cannot do this alone
Partnership is at the heart of CWGIE Evolution.
Diversity House works alongside organisations including Citizens Advice Swale, SATEDA, NHS Medway & Swale, Swale CVS, DWP, West Faversham Community Association, Children and Families Ltd, Swale Borough Council and local schools.
Each partner brings specialist knowledge, expertise and connections that help us respond to the different needs of women and girls.
Together, we can create a more connected network of support.
Where we are now
CWGIE Evolution is currently in Year 1 of delivery.
This first year is about strengthening and stabilising the work in Swale — expanding access to activities, developing leadership opportunities, strengthening partnerships and creating the foundations for the next stages of the project.
We are not looking at CWGIE Evolution as a finished product.
It is a journey.
We will listen, learn, adapt and grow alongside the women and girls who take part.
And as the project progresses, we will share more of what we learn, the activities we deliver and the stories of the people who make CWGIE what it is.
Be part of the journey
CWGIE Evolution belongs to the community.
Whether you are a woman looking for support, a parent or carer, a volunteer, a community organisation, a local business, a potential partner or simply someone who believes in creating greater opportunities for women and girls — there is a place for you.
Find out about our activities.
Get involved.
Share your skills.
Work with us.
Help us spread the word.
Because lasting change happens when people come together.
And when women and girls are given the space, support and opportunity to lead, the impact reaches far beyond the individual.
It reaches families.
It reaches communities.
And it helps shape the future.
This is CWGIE Evolution.
Empowering women. Inspiring girls. Building stronger communities.