Women's Academy

Woman in pink headscarf with laptop

Our Women’s Academy provides education, training and skills development activities specifically designed to help women who are dealing with trauma or other difficulties to improve their long-term employment prospects.

The project aims to build confidence and support you to take steps into volunteering, training or learning, or paid employment.

What we can offer:

We have a range of options to suit women at different stages of their journey:

10-week course

This structured programme includes goal setting, managing stress/ anxiety in the workplace, confidence building, identifying strengths, key employability skills, CV building, interview practice and more. Alongside the group sessions, 1-1 support is offered to help you achieve your employment goals.

Find out more, including how to register your interest for the next course HERE.

5-week course

This shorter course is structured to cover confidence building, managing stress/ anxiety in the workplace, key employability skills, preparing for interviews and basic digital skills. The course includes visits to Luton Adult Learning and Luton Library. Tailored 1-1 support is also offered to help you reach your employment goals.

The next course begins at Luton All Women’s Centre on 3^rd June. Find out more, including how to register HERE.

Basic digital skills 6-week course

Our new Basic Digital Skills course is designed to help women build confidence in an increasingly digital world. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to refresh your knowledge, this supportive, small-group programme offers a gentle introduction to everyday technology – from using devices and communicating online to accessing opportunities like job searching and virtual services.

The next course begins at Luton All Women’s Centre on 11th June. Find out more, including how to register HERE.

Employability workshops

Boost your chances of employment with our expert-led series of workshops, including interview skills, adult education and training, job searching and a volunteer fair. These short sessions take place at Luton All Women’s Centre in April and May this year - take a look at the upcoming schedule HERE.

This May, we're also offering an Introduction to Excel workshop - find out more HERE.

Find out more

If you are interested or would like more information on any of these courses, please email [email protected]

Support this work

To keep the work of the Women’s Academy going, we need help from local employers and other in the community:

If you are an employer, could you offer opportunities for our Women’s Academy clients at your organisation, e.g. work placements, volunteering, trial days or employment opportunities?
If you are a local training provider, could you volunteer some of your time to support this project?
If you are a LAWC supporter, could you help us keep this project funded? A £20 donation would make a great contribution towards the learning materials we use throughout this programme. Please make your donation here.

If you believe you could help in any of these ways, please contact us on 01582 416783 or [email protected]

Latest

Room hire

If you’re looking for a place to run an event, meeting, training session, community group, workshop or 1-1 activities (such as counselling), Luton All Women’s Centre at The Spires has a range of rooms available to hire.
Women's Services Directory (Luton)

This directory lists organisations that provide support for women in LUTON. It includes a range of services such as emotional wellbeing support, advice, advocacy, and specialist services.
Women's Services Directory (Bedford)

This directory lists organisations that provide support for women in BEDFORD. It includes a range of services such as emotional wellbeing support, advice, advocacy, and specialist services.
Women's Services Directory (Central Bedfordfordshire)

This directory lists organisations that provide support for women in CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE. It includes a range of services such as emotional wellbeing support, advice, advocacy, and specialist services.

Domestic abuse

Almost 30% of women in England and Wales say they have experienced domestic violence/abuse since the age of 16. If you are affected by this issue, Luton All Women's Centre is there to help.
Harmful practices

‘Harmful practices’ is a term used to describe things like forced marriage, honour-based violence (HBV) and female genital mutilation (FGM), all of which disproportionately affect women/ girls. Luton All Women's Centre's specialist harmful practices service provides educational measures to prevent such practices plus help for those affected in Luton and Bedfordshire.
Health and wellbeing

The importance of maintaining good physical health, mental health and general wellbeing cannot be over-emphasised. For the women we support at Luton All Women's Centre, such things aren't always easy. Our centre provides a wide range of services which aim to help vulnerable women in Luton with this area of their lives.
Counselling

Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, abuse, bereavement or any other distressing issue in your life, it can be easy to feel alone or that everything has moved beyond your point of control. Counselling provides the opportunity to talk with someone about how you’re feeling in a wholly supportive, confidential and non-judgemental environment. At Luton All Women’s Centre, professional counselling is an ongoing and vital part of the holistic support we offer to our clients.
Menopause group

We provide support for women going through the menopause via an open-access group, run at various times during the year in Luton, Bedford and online.
Mimosa group

Luton All Women's Centre offers the Mimosa support group for women whose health and wellbeing have been affected by childhood sexual abuse.
Bereavement group

Luton All Women's Centre offers the Bereavement group for women whose health and wellbeing have been affected by bereavement.
Women’s self-defence taster sessions

Dates TBC, At Luton All Women’s Centre (women only). More details coming soon so click through now to find out how to register your interest.

What we do

Luton All Women’s Centre (LAWC) has been supporting women and girls living in Luton and Bedfordshire since the early 1990s. Offering a wide-range of advisory, information, practical and holistic support services, our aim is to challenge gender inequality and empower women and girls to enjoy lives that are safer, healthier and fairer.
Jobs

LAWC is an organisation run by women for women. Our purpose – ‘Challenging gender inequality, creating a safer, healthier and more equal society for women in Luton and Bedfordshire’. If you are passionate about working with women, have the skills or experience we’re looking for and want to make a difference, then we’d love to hear from you. Take a look at our current opportunities.
Counselling

Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, abuse, bereavement or any other distressing issue in your life, it can be easy to feel alone or that everything has moved beyond your point of control. Counselling provides the opportunity to talk with someone about how you’re feeling in a wholly supportive, confidential and non-judgemental environment. At Luton All Women’s Centre, professional counselling is an ongoing and vital part of the holistic support we offer to our clients.
Domestic abuse

Almost 30% of women in England and Wales say they have experienced domestic violence/abuse since the age of 16. If you are affected by this issue, Luton All Women's Centre is there to help.
Make a referral

If you’re a professional and think someone you’re supporting could benefit from any of the services we provide at Luton All Women’s Centre, the team would be happy to hear from you.
Health and wellbeing

The importance of maintaining good physical health, mental health and general wellbeing cannot be over-emphasised. For the women we support at Luton All Women's Centre, such things aren't always easy. Our centre provides a wide range of services which aim to help vulnerable women in Luton with this area of their lives.
Other groups

Luton All Women's Centre offers a range of support groups for women whose health and wellbeing have been affected by various life-events - including childhood sexual abuse and bereavement.
Essential information

Take a look at all the essential information you need to know about Luton All Women's Centre, such as our normal opening times, facilities and accessibility information.
Volunteer with us

Volunteering with LAWC is a fantastic way for you use your skills, expertise and time for good, to support the vital work we carry out and to become a hugely valued member of our great team! Take a look at our current opportunities.
Help with domestic abuse

Local and national information and support around domestic abuse