West Kent

West Kent Young Women's Project provides support and information for young women who may have missed out on learning and educational opportunities.

YWCA West Kent Young Women’s Project is close to Tonbridge town centre and provides accessible support and information for young women in the area where there are pockets of deprivation.

We focus on young women aged 11 to 30 who may be economically, educationally or socially disadvantaged, at risk, vulnerable or isolated. They may be women who are not in employment, education or training or living with little money. They may be offenders or have a drug or alcohol addiction. Some may be lonely or depressed or struggling to cope with trauma or domestic abuse.

Everything we do is designed to raise the self-esteem and skill levels of young women so they can begin to take control of their own lives. Through our accredited and informal education programmes, young women learn to make informed choices about things that affect their lives such as health, housing, relationships, parenting, education and employment.

We run education programmes and personal and social development sessions in groups and individually for young women who are disengaged from learning or may be skipping school, to encourage them to progress into education, employment or training. Our sessions look at anger and stress, body image, self-esteem, personal safety and risky behaviour, bullying, assertiveness and relationships.

Our women’s UK Online Centre gives vital internet access and computer training.

Award winners!
In 2006 young women at YWCA West Kent won a Young People's Respect Award for making a film about the dangers of spiked drinks and cigarettes to warn other young men and women about the dangers. Kent Police and the youth service will be using it in a safety campaign across the county.  Read about it here.