New Common Charter supporter profile: Women’sTEC

Led by Chief Executive Lynn Carvill, Women’s TEC is Northern Ireland’s largest quality provider of training for women in non-traditional skills.

The team has been driving membership of #notjustforboys ‘Champions’ and local companies involved include Heron Brothers, Farrans Construction, McLaughlin & Harvey and Construction Futures.

Women’sTEC organises bricklaying, plumbing, do it yourself (DIY), car maintenance and wood panelling courses for women at locations across Northern Ireland.

Schoolgirls have been involved in making wooden keyrings and building beautiful planters.

A previous project with Creative Spark (Dundalk), Lislea Lively Ladies (based in Lislea Centre) and Hilltown Community Association’s women’s group attracted International Fund for Ireland funding over 18 months.

Lynn said: “Our schemes allow women the time and space to develop their confidence, self-efficacy and wellbeing so that they can take on new challenges in their personal lives, education and careers. We provide support and growth for the women in our community, and we are providing a safe space for women to explore skills they might never have tried before, skills such as carpentry, plumbing, tiling and electrics.”

The team is supported by six Board Members – Sylvia Gordon (Chair), Maria Bradley, Siobhan Brown, Nuala Griffiths, Andrea McKernan and Michael Potter – who provide strategic advice.

For details of courses, visit the Women’sTEC website.

The New Common Charter for Cooperation aims to empower civic society to drive cooperation, North-South and East-West, by

• increasing opportunities to share information, knowledge of policy and best-practice within and across these islands
• improving policy-making by matching it to realities on the ground
• identifying cross-border opportunities to collaborate to solve shared problems or exploit common resources
• engaging with and supporting human rights, particularly for the most isolated and marginalised in our communities, and
• facilitating the exploration and celebration of a community’s culture and heritage with a view to future cooperation.

Find out about what the Charter can do for your group here.