On Wednesday 7th September 5 Kairos women, 1 staff and 1 volunteer signed up to the City Council’s free One Body One Life Programme. The programme is part of the council’s strategy to raise the levels of healthy eating and exercise to improve the health of Coventry and the 12 week programme works with individuals to ensure that the have the right advice, support and opportunity to improve their levels of healthy eating and exercise. Each week, we’ve joined with other women in the community to participate in a healthy eating workshop and an exercise session. We’ve tried healthy smoothies and other recipes, learnt about the balance of good health, tried (and failed!) to walk 10,000 steps with our new pedometers and joined in over 6 hours of exercise so far.

‘Starting One Body One Life has given me a new life style; healthier eating and much more exercise. It also gave me the will to try and quit smoking’ (a service-user).

Big thanks go to Sue Douglas and her team for running the sessions and Eileen from Cornerstone for helping set the programme up.

Are you good with figures?            Is maths and budgeting  your thing? 

Kairos WWT desperately requires a treasurer to join our trustee board. If you are interested and would like to receive a role description as to what the role of treasurer entails please email your details to admin@kairoswwt.org 

Volunteering your time as Treasurer can enable you to learn new skills obtain valuable training and become part of the Kairos WWT team.

Don’t delay apply today!

We are celebrating 10 years of Kairos Women Working Together.

You are invited to the AGM on Monday 2nd November 2009 at 7.00pm,

Phoenix Hall, St Peter’s Centre, Charles St, Hillfields, CV1 5NP

Guest Speaker: Joy Doal, Project Manager, Anawim WWT

Refreshments will be available

Kairos are looking for volunteers to support their weekly arts & crafts session during their Women’s Group (Mondays 1.00-3.00pm). Our women are especially keen to try their hand and develop their skills in card-making, rug-making, knitting, jewellery-making, sewing/clothes alterations, painting, mosaics and making Christmas decorations.

If you have a skill or a hobby that you would like to share with our group, please contact Lucia on 02476 559550 or lucia@kairoswwt.org.

Kairos service-users share their highlights from our summer programme:

“On 5th August we went to the Splash Pool at Coventry Swimming Baths, we really had fun, and it was my son’s first time swimming, he really enjoyed himself.  He wasn’t scared at all;  he went down the water slide and he didn’t want to get out.  Teaching him to swim was really good.”

“We went to the Sea Life Centre which was the very first time I’d ever been.  I thought it was good.”

“The 10 year anniversary was good and it made me feel good about myself.  I’m more stable in my life through the help from Kairos and the staff.”

“I really enjoyed myself at the 10 year anniversary.  I had my face painted.  I also enjoyed myself at Twycross Zoo.  I really liked watching the monkeys.”

“Twycross was a very good day.  I loved it.”

Horse Riding – “I was quiet scared and wanted to get off the horse at one time, but I stayed on and became a little more brave.  As the ride went on I became more confident but I got left behind.  Every one was laughing because my horse kept stopping.  Her name was Daisey.  She was so lazy.  Finally, we arrived half an hour later;  everyone was waiting.  Trust me to get the slowest horse”.

We had a great summer together. Staff want to thank all the volunteers who supported our summer programme this year.

Kairos WWT is currently working hard on a business plan looking at ways in which to continue already valued services and to develop new ways in which to work and outreach to those in need. Suzanne Shaw the Project Manager at Kairos WWT has been visiting organisations working with similar client groups in the city to ask ‘ How can we work together to offer the best service possible and to make a difference to lives of the women we support?’

In meeting with Barry Eveliegh at Coventry Community Safety Partnership it was highlighted the lack of ‘working together’ between organisations and thus a meeting has been set up for mid September for related organisations to come together. Funding was of course discussed and ways in which Kairos WWT work can be supported by the Community Safety Partnership. A funding bid was put together and has been successful. A Social Enterprise for the women’s group in developing arts and crafts and sales, and to enable Internet connection at the women’s group so service users can access services such as ‘home finder’, job search and further qualifications in CLAIT.

Kairos WWT would like to say thank you for the much appreciated funds towards its essential services.

Thank you Coventry Community Safety Partnership

75 service-users, volunteers and Friends of Kairos joined together on Saturday 1st August to celebrate Kairos’ 10th Anniversary. In spite of poor weather, the day was a resounding success with plenty of family fun and good food shared by all. Volunteers joined forces to man the 7 stalls, bouncy castle, face-paint and share their delicious cakes. Live music was also provided by a volunteer and cards and jewellery made by service-users during our weekly Women’s Group were sold. Kairos is proud to celebrate it’s 10th year in operation and was delighted to share the celebration with so many friends and supporters.

Kairos is 10 this year and we are celebrating on

Saturday 1st August, 12 noon until 3.30pm

St Peter’s Centre, Charles Street, Hillfields 

We have a bouncy castle, bbq, guess the name of the clown, complimentary therapies and lots more family fun.

Look forward to seeing you and celebrating our first decade!

Our WINGS programme was piloted throughout March-June and focused on offering opportunities for our service-users to increase their skills, confidence, sense of well-being  and support network. Sessions were held for 12 weeks on a Wednesday afternoon.

Out of 12 service-users participating:

• 10 produced a portfolio of work
• 7 achieved a recognised certificate in Basic Life Support
• 7 started work on their CV
• 1 applied to do a FE course after a group visit to the local college
• 3 attended a Matching night for the new Befriending scheme

Feedback from the group was very positive and 100% of those asked, said they would take part in similar sessions in the future.

When asked what the focus of future sessions should be, service-users suggested fitness, going back to work, accessing college courses and complimentary therapies, confirming our sense that our service-users want stimulating opportunities for improving their well-being, skills and options for the future.

Join us 1.00-3.00pm every Wednesday at Cornerstone Methodist Church to Spread your Wings …

Kairos’ women have been busy during our Women’s Group on a Monday creating a centre piece for our upcoming 10th Anniversary Celebration. The group have been working with Victoria Redgrave from Namaha to create a fantastic piece of artwork that represents the goddess within each of them. Our women are creative, caring, strong, lively, resourceful, supportive and much much more and we are proud to celebrate their wonderful qualities.

The art work will be proudly displayed at our upcoming anniversary celebration on August 1st. Big thanks go to Victoria for her hardwork, encouragement, energy and talent. We had a great time together!