FALLS IONAD WOMEN’S BAN CENTRE NA bhFÁL
Annual Report 2025
A word from our Chairperson Martine Jackson
This year marks the final year of our five-year strategic plan. As we look back, we are proud of all we have accomplished together as a management board, staff team, and volunteers. I want to thank all the women involved for their dedication and commitment to our vital and valuable work.
Their efforts ensure that women in our community have a welcoming place to seek support, feel valued, and grow in their personal development alongside others.
Our Annual Report not only highlights the important work the Centre has carried out but also provides an essential opportunity to address the serious issues women face every day.
Poverty within our community remains high. The rising cost of living, low salaries, and the lack of affordable childcare continue to create barriers to women’s full participation in public life.
Women continue to face discrimination and inequality. As an organisation, we remain firmly committed to challenging gender inequality and to addressing violence against women and girls in all its forms.
It is equally important that our Annual Report acknowledges the violence and human rights violations experienced by women and children both at home and around the world, particularly in Gaza and Sudan.
As a women’s centre, we call for the protection of all women and children and extend our solidarity to women everywhere.
It is vital that we amplify women’s voices and ensure these challenges are clearly heard and addressed.
“Women continue to face discrimination and inequality. As an organisation, we remain firmly committed to challenging gender inequality and to addressing violence against women and girls in all its forms.”
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Falls Women’s Centre / Ionad Ban Na bhFál Annual Report 2025
Managing Director Susan Mc Crory
It is an honour to present our annual report. Each year, we welcome the opportunity to highlight our achievements and to demonstrate our accountability to our funders, our service users, and the wider community.
This report reflects the dedication and professionalism of our staff and management, as well as the accomplishments of the women who have engaged with our centre through our Education Department, Advice, Advocacy and Family Support Department, and Childcare Department.
Our work highlights the importance of providing comprehensive, wrap around services for women living in disadvantaged communities.
These services enable them to develop their skills, access advocacy and support, and receive the encouragement necessary to progress in their lives.
As a grassroots community organisation, we remain acutely aware of the evolving climate within society, marked by a troubling rise in racism, authoritarianism, and hate crimes.
As women, we recognise the significance of challenge and resistance, having long championed gender equality.
Looking ahead, our role is to confront these challenges, promote development, and strengthen solidarity for women and their families within our community.
I look forward to the coming year, advancing our work through our new five-year strategic plan and working collectively to create meaningful, positive change.
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Our Vision, Mission & Values
Vision
Our values and ethos at the Falls Women’s Centre is what guides our everyday work, our long terms strategic apporach and how we help to deliver much needed change in our communities and in in our society. They are:
Social Justice and Equality: we work for a more just and equal society for women
Empowerment: we enable women to develop confidence, capacity, skills and relationships to shape collective action and challenge imbalances of power and ensure women’s voices are heard at the highest level of society.
Safety and Integrity: we ensure that women are safe, secure in a trusted environment
Open and Inclusive: we are a diverse organisation and we build relationships with women from all sections of society
Openness: we are open and accountable with all our stakeholders
Feminist: we campaign to define, establish and achieve political, economic, personal, cultural and social rights for women
Falls women’s Centre / Ionad Ban na bhFál is committed to promoting structural and gender equality underpinned by a just and equal society for all women.
Mission
Falls Women’s Centre/Ionad Mhná na bhFál is a feminist organisation in a post conflict setting, committed to promoting structural and gender equality for women.
We will provide a safe, welcoming, comfortable, women-only environment, supporting women to recognise and develop their talents and skills and become active in realising their full potential and contribute to peace building.
We aim to empower women to challenge inequality and social injustice locally, nationally and internationally.
Fís
Tá Ionad Ban na bhFál tiomanta do chomhionannas struchtúrtha agus inscne a chur chun cinn a bhfuil sochaí chóir agus cothrom do gach bean mar bhonn taca aige.
Misean
Is eagraíocht fheimineach é Ionad Mhná na bhFál i suíomh iarchoinbhleachta, atá tiomanta do chomhionannas struchtúrtha agus inscne a chur chun cinn do mhná.
Cuirfimid timpeallacht shábháilte, fáilteach, chompordach ar fáil do mhná amháin, ag tacú le mná a gcuid buanna agus scileanna a aithint agus a fhorbairt agus a bheith gníomhach chun a lánacmhainneacht a bhaint amach agus cur le tógáil na síochána.
Tá sé mar aidhm againn mná a chumhachtú chun dúshlán a thabhairt don éagothroime agus don éagóir shóisialta go háitiúil, go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta.
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Annual Report 2025 ee
Falls Women’s Centre / Ionad Ban Na bhFál Annual Report 2025
The Falls Women’s Centre/Ionad Ban na bhFál is involved in the economic development of the community and continues to support women’s development within the area through the provision of training, education, childcare, advice, advocacy, counselling, health and well-being. = 151 489 women supported qualifications Gained more sales Gained more sales gained by women in the delivery of from year 2027 to 2028 from year 2027 to 2028 in our centre welfare entitlements 64 182 therapeutic women engaged in Gained more sales Gained more sales counselling and counselling training from year 2027 to 2028 complimentary from year 2027 to 2028 course therapies delivered s- 1120 72 hours of counselling women engaged delivered in volunteer in Women in work placements Peace Building _g 653 46 women supported in children advice, advocacy & attending our Gained more sales family support childcare services from year 2027 to 2028
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Training, Education, Employment & Development
Training & Employment delivered a comprehensive range of accredited and non-accredited training and educational opportunities to women within our community.
Over 40 participants engaged in our programmes, which encompassed Health and Social Care, Childcare, Teaching Assistant Training, Understanding Autism, Business Administration, and ICT. Participant feedback stated programmes significantly enhanced their employability, enabling many to secure new roles or progress within their existing employment.
CPCAB Therapeutic Counselling: Over the past year, we supported 46 women to complete a range of counselling qualifications, from Certificate Levels 2 and 3 through to the Level 4 Diploma.
14 women successfully achieved the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. After 4 years of sustained dedication, they are now fully qualified counsellors contributing to the wellbeing of our community. Through their pro bono placements, they collectively delivered 1,120 hours of voluntary service, providing oneto-one counselling to 100 individuals.
Women in Peacebuilding & Good
Relations programmes continue to strengthen women’s capacity to play a more meaningful and influential role in civic society.
Through both local and cross-border partnerships, we have created opportunities for women to convene, engage in dialogue, and address the pressing issues that impact our daily lives. By fostering stronger relationships and building new connections, we ensure that women’s voices are amplified and positioned to drive effective and sustainable change.
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Falls Women’s Centre / Ionad Ban Na bhFál Annual Report 2025
Training, Education, Employment & Development
Women Breaking Barriers is a
collaborative initiative delivered by a consortium of Women’s Centres and network organisations. The project was established to address systemic barriers faced by women in accessing and sustaining employment. A focus is palced on skills development, confidence building, and tailored support. through ICT, Essential Skills Maths, Personal Development, Job Skills including interview techniques, job applications, CV building. Through our one-to-one support women acquired skills aligned to the market needs, built confidence and strengthened pathways to economic independence and social inclusion .
Nothing About us Without Us: In
collaboration with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and the codesign panel of grassroots women’s groups, Nothing About Us Without Us, we continue to lobby on the urgent need for a Women’s Health Strategy. We have engaged with women across the region, promoting our Visible, Vocal, and Valued campaign. These conversations are essential to driving real change. It is vital that women, alongside Falls Women’s Centre, continue to lead these discussions, with the goal of establishing a fully funded, women-specific health service.
Constitutional Conversation: We
recognise the significant barriers that continue to limit women’s participation in public life. Through our good relations project, Women in Peacebuilding, we have created meaningful opportunities for women from crosscommunity, cross-border, and newcomer backgrounds to come together, engage, and discuss the issues that shape their lives. Insights from our Féile round-table event this year highlighted a strong need for more community dialogue and accessible information about the constitutional changes taking place today. Women want to be informed, included, and actively engaged.
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Advocacy & Support
Violence Against Women and Girls
Supporting women experiencing domestic violence and sexual abuse remains one of our core values. Women and their families continue to rely on our specialised, womenonly support services. We have supported more than 150 women in 2025 who are survivors of gender-based violence. Our comprehensive wraparound services include court accompaniment, access to legal support, securing temporary accommodation, in-house counselling, welfare-benefit assessments, and befriending.
Violence against women and girls is a systemic and deeply rooted issue within society. We are committed to addressing these harms. This year Falls Women’s Centre delivered a series of workshops in Falls Women’s Centre, Shankill Women’s Centre and Greenway Women’s Centre highlighting the End Violence Against Women’s and Girls Strategy. 64 women engaged in the workshops.
Welfare & Benefit Entitlements
Welfare benefits and entitlements continue to be in high demand within our services, reflecting the very real pressures faced by women in our community. The high cost of living and entrenched poverty are felt deeply every day, and our statistics reveal the scale of this challenge.
The gender pay gap, low-paid employment, soaring childcare costs, and high housing expenses all trap many women in a cycle of poverty, making it difficult for them to support themselves and their children. While we welcome the removal of the two-child benefit cap, much more needs to be done to tackle the systemic issues that continues to affect disadvantage women.
Addressing these inequalities is essential to creating a society where all women have the opportunity to thrive.
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Falls Women’s Centre / Ionad Ban Na bhFál Annual Report 2025
Advocacy & Support
Older women
Our Older Women’s Programmes provide programmes that reduce isolation and foster meaningful connections. Many women in later life face challenges such as loneliness, limited mobility, or the loss of long-standing social networks. By creating safe, welcoming environments, we ensure that women feel valued, supported, and encouraged to participate fully in community life.
Our programmes focus on building new friendships through shared activities, conversation groups, and social events designed with older women in mind. These spaces not only offer companionship but also empower women to engage confidently, exchange experiences, and strengthen their sense of belonging. By reducing isolation and nurturing community ties, we help older women thrive and contribute their voices to a more inclusive society.
Minority Ethnic Women’s Support Project
Our commitment is to support newcomer women not only in learning English but in becoming valued and active members of our community. Women arriving in a new country face significant challenges: balancing family responsibilities, navigating unfamiliar systems, and overcoming cultural barriers that limit their opportunities. We create inclusive spaces where they feel empowered to communicate, connect, and thrive. Flexible, women-focused language programs with hildcare alongside English classes, allows mothers to participate fully. Conversation circles and informal social gatherings offer safe environments where women can build friendships, share experiences, and strengthen networks that ease their transition. We also recognise the rise of hate crime within our communities. In response, we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and safe space.
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Childcare, . Nurturing Early Years
Affordable childcare enables women to participate in pursuing education and creating opportunities to build a career.
At the Falls Women’s Centre, our experienced childcare team is dedicated to providing a warm and supportive environment where every child feels valued and nurtured.
We understand that each child is unique, and we tailor our programmes and activities to meet their individual needs and interests.
We support children explore the five key stages physical, social, emotional, communication and intellectual skills.
We believe childcare is not just a family responsibility—it is a social and economic investment.
Supporting childcare systems benefits women by enhancing equality and opportunity, while giving children a strong foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.
Our childcare also enables women to pursue education and build sustainable careers.
Strengthening childcare systems promotes gender equality and opportunity, while giving children the foundation they need for lifelong learning, well-being, and success.
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Falls Women’s Centre / Ionad Ban Na bhFál Annual Report 2025
Our Managment, Staff & Volunteers
The managment, staff and volunteers are the backbone of the Falls Women’s Centre and each and everyone of them deserves a huge thank you.
The management are there for our governance oversight and guidance and we owe them a debt of gratitude for the time they selflessly give over.
Our staff are there day and daily to provide the much needed services to our wonderful communities. No mater what the challenge, they are on site with a smile on their faces, offering a huge welcome, help and assistance to whoever walks through our doors.
Our vounteers freely give their time and effort to help others in our centre, but it is much more than that. They are the next generation of women that will lead from the front for change, equity and empowerment. They learn from us but we learn so much from them in return and we could not operate with out them.
Management
Martine Jackson (Chairperson) Mary McArdle (Vice Chair) Rosaleen McCorley (Treasurer) Carol Jackson (Secretary) Jackie Bunting Janice Austin Ailish Scott
Staff
Susan McCrory Cathy O’Rawe Nancy Graham Niamh Rooney Teresa Rice Bernie Reilly Catriona Miskimmin Anne-Marie Keenan Jennifer Beatty Colette Woods Michelle Rainey Danielle Morris Leigh Aitken Alex Templeton Elaine Coyle Kim McCleary Jennifer McCaul Corrina Mc Connell Caoimhe Mulholland Michelle Mead
We would like to take this opportunity to recognise the contributions of our staff who have left us this year: Breige Wright, Annmarie Neeson, and Dearbhaile Liggett. We wish them every success in their future endeavours.
Volunteers
There too many to name but you know who you are and a very special thank you goes out to you all.
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Our Funders
Need support or information? We’re ready to listen.
At the Falls Women’s Centre, we believe that every woman deserves to feel heard, supported, and empowered. Whether you’re facing challenges, seeking new opportunities, or simply need someone to talk to, we’re here to walk alongside you on your journey.
Contact us
Falls Women’s Centre 256-258 Falls Road Belfast BT12 6AL
Call us on : 02890 32 7672 Advice Line: 02890 327672 Training: 07736 925778 email: info@fallswomenscentre.org