In August and September 2026, the Asha Neighbourhood Project partnered with Being Human CIC to deliver She Rises, a free seven-week course supporting women in South Leeds to build confidence and take their next steps towards volunteering, education or employment.
Delivered at the Asha Neighbourhood Project in Beeston, the course was designed for women aged 64 and under who had experience of health or mental health and wellbeing challenges and had the right to work in the UK.
Nine women took part, representing a diverse range of backgrounds, including African, Arab, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. Participants were recruited through Facebook, posters, WhatsApp, word of mouth and local community networks.
The course helped participants recognise barriers to education and employment while developing practical strategies to overcome them.
Despite some challenges with attendance, punctuality and ongoing health issues, the programme enabled participants to identify their strengths, develop new skills and take positive steps towards their future.
By the end of the programme:
2 women progressed into volunteering programmes.
3 women progressed into further education.
1 woman secured paid employment.
Two learners continued to experience health-related challenges, highlighting the importance of ongoing, person-centred support and recognising that progression happens at different rates for different people.
She Rises demonstrated that small, achievable steps can lead to meaningful change. For women facing health and wellbeing challenges, building confidence and self-belief can be an important foundation for future progression.
The programme also reinforced the value of:
- Providing safe and accessible community-based learning.
- Creating women-only spaces where participants feel comfortable sharing experiences.
- Offering culturally responsive and bilingual support.
- Combining personal development with practical progression opportunities.
- Recognising that every woman’s journey and definition of progress is different.
Each week focused on a different area of personal development and progression:
- Hope and Change – understanding the process of change and preparing for action.
- Self-Belief and Self-Talk – developing confidence, self-compassion and positive self-talk.
- Managing Stress – exploring wellbeing and strategies for managing stress.
- Interview Preparation – developing confidence and practical interview skills.
- Maintaining Momentum – staying motivated and managing setbacks.
- Reasonable Adjustments – understanding support available in education and employment.
- Access to Local Opportunities – exploring volunteering, education and employment opportunities.
The course created a supportive women-only environment where participants could learn, reflect and share their experiences. Learners particularly valued the accessible location, female-only setting, facilitator, teaching approaches, course content and support from bilingual staff.
The She Rises programme demonstrates the impact that partnership working can have when community organisations come together to provide accessible, inclusive and person-centred opportunities.
For the nine women who took part, the course was not simply about gaining knowledge. It was about developing the confidence to believe that change was possible — and taking the next small step towards making it happen.
A particularly memorable part of the course was a discussion around the Wise Owl and Poisonous Parrot, which prompted reflection on the impact of positive and negative voices.
As a Health Development Worker supporting the programme, this reminded me of the story of the two frogs who fall into a deep pit. While one frog gives up after listening to people telling him that escape is impossible, the other continues trying and eventually escapes. The twist is that the surviving frog was deaf and believed the crowd’s discouraging gestures were encouragement.
The story resonated with the themes of She Rises: self-belief, resilience and the importance of surrounding ourselves with encouragement and support.
One learner, S.S., described how the course had changed their approach to achieving their goals:
“Instead of looking at too much ahead, I am trying to break it down into tiny, manageable steps. By telling myself, ‘I can do it, I will do it.’”
Building on the success and positive feedback from the She Rises course, the Asha Neighbourhood Project plans to continue working in partnership with Being Human to develop and deliver further women-focused programmes.
The partnership will explore opportunities to deliver additional She Rises courses, alongside new and creative projects such as Unfolding Projects, Women Supporting women and crafts.
These future activities will continue to provide women with safe, welcoming and supportive spaces to build confidence, develop skills, connect with others and explore pathways into volunteering, education and employment.
We will use the learning and feedback from the first She Rises programme to shape future delivery, ensuring that activities remain responsive to the needs and aspirations of women in the local community.
This post was written by Tahena Ahmed
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