MORE women and girls in the borough can learn how to put up a shelf or change a fuse themselves, thanks to a grant awarded to Nail It DIY from Wokingham United Charities (WUC).
WUC’s Thrive Grant will enable Nail It DIY to deliver more of its practical, confidence enhancing workshops for women and girls.
Thrive is one of a number of funds given by Wokingham United Charities to community groups and organisations committed to alleviating poverty and enhancing quality of life for people in need.
It is awarded for project-based initiatives designed to improve well-being, such as Nail It DIY workshops.
The community interest company is co-directed by friends Justine Wortsman and Sarah Bolger who met at the school gates of their children’s primary school.
Sarah, an electrician, helped Justine with a DIY project in her home, before the two women realised that many others were keen to learn new skills.
Justine said: “When we first began offering courses, it very soon became obvious that there was a very strong demand for them in Wokingham.
“They quickly sold out, and we are thrilled to be able to carry out more sessions.
“I’m particularly excited that we’ll be working with a broader age range.
“The Thrive grant will enable us to teach girls as well as women that they can do this kind of thing – it’s a case of prevention over cure – enabling them to feel confident.
“By my own mid-forties I realised I had been subtly signposted away from DIY, and I love the idea that girls might now be able to grow up with not even the slightest doubt that DIY is something that they can tackle.
“We’re very grateful to Wokingham United Charities for awarding us the grant.
“They said ours was quite a different initiative, so we’re delighted they chose to support us.
“We aim to boost people’s confidence, and we love seeing the joy when women have managed, for example, to put up a shelf for the first time.”
This year WUC is supporting six charities through its Thrive Grant: Project Salamar, Wokingham Volunteer Centre Green and Tidy, ARC counselling for young people, The Cowshed’s school Uniform project, ABC to Read, and Nail It DIY.
The Thrive Grant will enable Nail It DIY to deliver 12 two-hour practical, impactful Women & Girls DIY Workshops, giving priority to women referred through local charities and community organisations.
It will also enable them to develop a new website with an integrated referral system to manage bookings and measure the workshops’ impact.
“Charities, organisations, clubs, and CICs (Community Interest Companies) that look after and support women, will be able to refer them to us via the website,” said Justine.
“We’re very interested to start conversations with all kinds of groups that support women, for example those who have fled domestic violence.
“We want to be able to pass on DIY skills and confidence to women who may be living by themselves for the first time, or who just need to feel that they are capable.”
Nail It DIY Workshops take place across the borough, in Beenham, Bracknell, Windsor, Calcot, Caversham, Wokingham, Sonning Common, and Theale.
Wokingham United Charities grants can be applied for online via their website.
For information, visit Nail It DIY’s Facebook page and wokinghamunitedcharities.org.uk
