London West

YWCA London West helps isolated young women to deal with pregnancy, poor housing, crime and physical and emotional abuse. We have centres in Southall and Acton and work in schools and clubs throughout the area.

In London West young women with children, young black women and refugees are frequently isolated so activities at our project are designed for them.

We help young women them to access education and employment opportunities and offer a safe women-only space where they can develop new skills and develop personally.

Our youth workers work closely with young mums on relationships, healthy living and sexual health, education, employment, parenting and childcare. Our ante-natal group for pregnant women aged under 20 brings young women together with youth workers, midwives and health visitors.

Photo: Sometimes our MP comes to visit!

In our lunchtime drop-in and after-school drop-in sessions we invite young women to meet, get information and support, build relationships with each other and develop their own activities. We discuss things like smoking, life after school, career choices, safe sex and relationships or building self-esteem.

In schools we run personal, social and health education (PSHE) and sex and relationships education (SRE) lessons. Through discussions, we help young women to make realistic choices to prevent risky behaviour.