COFFS HARBOUR WOMEN'S SHED
More than just a shed.
Our mission is to empower women in the Coffs Harbour community and beyond, by providing a safe and supportive environment, where they can comfortably connect, share experiences, skills, and support each other to grow.
Through fostering open dialogue, offering diverse learning and empowerment opportunities, we aim to build knowledge, resilience and reduce isolation among women, thereby enhancing mental health and well-being, and enabling them to thrive in all aspects of life
This is more than just creating a space for women to build stuff, it is about building women.
All women in our community will benefit from the authentic connections and support that will result from this supportive and non-intimidating environment.
WAYS TO HELP
We seek to support, empower, and provide growth opportunities for women in the Coffs Harbour community. By supporting us to expand our initiatives and build our capacity, we have the potential to make substantial and lasting change. Each contribution directly supports our mission to create a safe and empowering environment for women, fostering real change and positive outcomes in our entire community
PROJECT UPDATE
We are currently lobbying Government, seeking funding, and a suitable location to establish our Shed.
Meanwhile, we’ve held workshops and events for community members and potential partner organisations, with overwhelming support for our initiative.
Over 2000 women attended our ‘Splendour in the Shed’ event in October 2022, and we now have over 700 official ‘Sheddies’, who have joined as members with a pledge to use the shed once it is built.
JOIN US
The support we receive drives us to address some of our communities most challenging problems.
Our strength is amplified with collective action, and you can help make a difference right now!
The Women’s Shed Steering Committee
invites you to join our project campaign.
You can sign up as a 'Sheddie' today. Membership is free. Find out more by clicking the Membership button below.
We also value the support of the good blokes in our community. So we are inviting men to show their support for our project by signing up as a 'Freddie'.
SUBSCRIBE
Stay up to date with the latest from The Coffs Harbour Shed Committee by signing up for our newsletter.
It's the perfect way to ensure you never miss out on upcoming events or important news.
Note: Our updates are slightly sporadic as we are all busy, but dedicated volunteers.
YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE AT THE BOTTOM OF ANY PAGE!
OUR STORY
The Coffs Harbour Women's Shed Project was initiated by The Lions Club of Coffs Harbour who recognised the need to have a safe, supportive and social space where women can talk openly, much like the men’s shed.
The Shed’s Steering Committee later broadened this to address the increasing levels of domestic and family violence, and acknowledge the impact of social isolation on women in rural regions.
Through a Women's Shed, we aim to connect women from all backgrounds, help them form friendships, and learn new skills, or pass on traditional ones. We hope that through increased self-sufficiency and on-going support, we will see an increase in self-esteem, independence, and confidence.
We believe our Shed will uniquely contribute to domestic and family violence prevention efforts by providing a safe space for women to share and address their issues early on, ensuring women are supported and empowered to become economically self-sufficient and confident in navigating their lives.
Ultimately, it is well known that women who engage socially have healthier, happier and more productive lives, which in turn creates healthier communities.
That is why we ultimately decided to launch the Coffs Harbour Women's Shed Project.
We are connected to many community groups and women's support services that are in support of this project and excited about working with us, helping us provide a 'soft landing' for women after trauma.
We welcome support from local business, sponsors and people willing to contribute to its development.
We are continuing to collect data to ascertain community interest and participation through our survey (below). Please complete the survey, register your interest, and let us know about the skills and knowledge that you have to share.
“When we invest in women and girls, we are investing in the people who invest in everyone else.”
– Melinda Gates
OUR GOALS
GOAL 1
Create a safe and supportive environment to improve the mental health of women in the Coffs Harbour area.
GOAL 2
Construct a sustainable building that enables women to connect, learn and build on and share life skills.
GOAL 3
Empower women to take control and become more self-sufficient.
GOAL 4
Strengthen and connect existing community networks to provide opportunities for women in our region.
