What initially looked like a scam has turned out to be a $20,000 windfall for the Women’s Centre Rodney.
The charity collected the prize as one of only two NZ finalists in the WeightWatchers Wellness Impact Awards, which were judged by public vote. The other finalist was the national organisation Period Place.
Centre manager Jo Nicholson says the centre is over the moon and can’t thank the community enough, both for the nomination and the support.
“We didn’t know we had been nominated – in fact, we still don’t know who nominated us – so when I saw an email telling us we’d won, my first reaction was to delete it,” Nicholson says. “It looked like a scam.
“I contacted WeightWatchers, in the United States where the email originated, to let them know that their account might have been compromised. They got on the phone immediately and said, ‘No, don’t delete it. It’s true.’”
Nicholson says the grant will be used to develop new programmes that have been on the ‘wish list’ for a while.
“We will ask the community to identify the priorities, but it could be used to support some of our counselling courses, which are currently not funded. A lot of women are struggling financially and there is a lot of anxiety in the community, so initiatives that help in these areas might also benefit.”
The Rodney Womens Centre has been providing support and services for women for more than 30 years. Nicholson, who joined the centre earlier this year, says the grant is a validation of many people’s work over many years.
The centre offers a safe place for women to meet, relax and learn. As well as counselling, it runs personal development courses, holistic life coaching, a young mums group, a legal clinic, free cervical screening, arts and crafts courses, and sustainable living courses, which includes maintaining a centre garden.
“We just want to say a huge thank you to all our supporters who voted for us and to WeightWatchers Wellness Impact Awards for this amazing opportunity,” Nicholson said.
Meanwhile, the Womens Centre is hosting a fashion pop-up event at the Warkworth Town Hall on Saturday, July 2.
Nicholson says it is a chance for women to look good and feel confident in new and pre-loved NZ-designed clothing.
The event is being run with @Fashion Sister, an initiative of the Gattung Foundation, an NZ registered charity.
“It’s a chance for women who don’t have the time, money, good health, transport or other resources to find these clothes themselves,” Nicholson says.
“@Fashion Sister’s mission is to democratise women’s fashion and we’re right behind that. Come along and browse, try on clothes, and find something that makes you feel confident – we’ve even got nibbles and bubbles!”
The pop-up event will run from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
