Welcome Message

New Funding

Celebrating 2012

New and on-going activities at Shifa

Halwa Recipe

Shifa Success Story

Your Health

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Talk

10am - Noon 15th March at CornerHouse

Shifa is a well-being project that provides

information, advocacy and support to Asian

women in Woking

Shifa is open From 10am to 1pm

every Thursday and Friday

at CornerHouse,

2 Courtenay Road Woking GU21 5HQ

For more information or to access support please drop-in when

we are open, or call us on 07897 316 978

Welcome to our first ever newsletter!

The main objective of our newsletter is to communicate valuable

information to our readers by announcing Shifa news and events

and to help create a wider community of interest in local Asian

women’s well-being. We will also keep our readers posted on

physical and emotional health issues as well as tasty recipes,

home remedies, interviews and poetry.

Shifa secure new funding for three years

Shifa have been delivering vital local community services to Asian

women in Woking over the last nine years. We have now been

successful in securing new funding for the next three years!

As a partner to lead organisation, CornerHouse, we will help

provide the Surrey County Council funded local Community

Connections Service for 2013-16.

This service is aimed at promoting improved quality of life by

focussing on positive emotional health and wellbeing and is open

to anyone of working age in Surrey.

07897 316 978 info@shifa-woking.org.uk

Issue 1 March 2013

About Shifa...

Inside this Issue...

Shifa workers Ghazala Waheed, Mariam Altaf and Jabeen Qureshi

Dates for your diary...

C ELEBRATING SUCCESS FOR SHIFA DURING 2012

Our courses had a great turn out and

were successful in giving women the

skills and knowledge to access services

and employment.

Corner Gym - One of the most

successful outcomes of last year

was the exciting CornerGym

project, where women made use of

our exercise facilities to achieve

their health, fitness and wellness

goals in an all-women environment.

Sewing Courses - We successfully delivered sewing courses for our service users which

helped them to improve their sewing skills and to be able to make their own clothes.

Driving Theory Test - Shifa aided women in preparing for their theory test at our centre by allowing them to practise theory test questions on our computers, and to take mock tests. With the use of language support, the course developed their understanding of road use and aided them toward their final tests.

Learning Tree - 2012 was a year where our new BBC Children in Need funded program,

Learning Tree, opened its doors to provide a safe, supervised space for young children to assist them with their homework. The club was successful in attracting a large number of children. We feel that the club has a strong orientation to encourage and strengthen literacy skills in all its activities.

ESOL - We also had consecutive success with our ESOL courses. Woking College taught

two Shifa ESOL courses. There has been successful completion of ESOL programme by many Shifa students.

Shifa Drop In - At our drop in we provided information, support and services to women that

they would not normally be able to access due to language barriers.

We celebrate our reaching of those who were in great need of our services and programmes,

and the increased self-confidence and hope that the courses have provided to them.

Enjoying some exercise in the CornerGym!

A LL YEAR DELIGHT– CARROT HALWA

Prep time: 30 min Cook time: 30min Serves: 8-10

N EW AND ON-GOING PROJECTS AT SHIFA

Shifa have recently started a new work programme. This programme will introduce women to the current employment market, help them to gain skills and give them confidence and motivation to enter into employment. Upon completion of the course, they will have familiarity with working in a team, writing a CV, interviewing and completing applications forms. Learning Tree, the BBC Children in Need funded homework club, has been a unique journey for local children. In light of the positive and enthusiastic response, we have now reapplied for more funding to ensure that this much valued activity can continue. We will be continuing with our ESOL Language Classes, Sewing Classes, and regular access to the CornerGym, as well as our vital emotional and practical support to local Asian women.

S HIFA SUCCESS STORIES

Our service user came to Woking from a remote village in Pakistan with no English and

no confidence in her abilities. She successfully studied ESOL Level 1 at our centre. Her English

language skills provided her with courage and determination to embark on a journey of learning

and self-discovery. “It’s difficult to access services or seek help if you cannot speak the

language. I had no idea how to use public support or how to get to town centre by myself. “

“I went to Shifa and found the staff very helpful. Shifa gave me strength and built my confidence

through its friendly drop in sessions and advice. I can speak English now. I’ve learnt how to

operate a computer and through informal counselling managed to work on building my self

esteem and gaining confidence in my abilities to find employment. I like working part time and

love the interaction with my work colleagues.

I still struggle with fluency in English, but I have learnt to get by. I feel proud of myself.”

Thank you, Shifa, for changing my life!”

O UR HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH – VITAMIN D

According to research studies, Pakistani women living in Surrey are deficient in Vitamin D. The main source of Vitamin D is sunlight, however in UK, between October and April, due to short wavelengths; our body does not receive enough sunlight, thus leading to depletion in our Vitamin D levels. The nutrition and bone health team at the University of Surrey are in a process of completing a study on how much Vitamin D you need every day to stay healthy. Several Asian women from Woking and surrounding areas have participated in this unique study. There are two types of Vitamin D in our body, D2 and D3, which our body needs to function daily. According to Mayo clinic, “Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones.” Mayo clinic further adds that “as little as 10 minutes of exposure is thought to be enough to prevent deficiencies.” Vitamin D2 is found in some fortified breakfast cereals and marga-rines, whereas vitamin D3 is the type we get from the sun during summer months and is also found in some foods such as oily fish and eggs.

Vitamin D is important because it:

Strengthens our bones. Supports our immune system Helps with the absorption of minerals and vitamins in our body.

Deficiency in Vitamin D can lead to brittle bones, and rickets in children. The levels in our body can be increased through good diet, exposure to adequate amount of sunlight in summer and through Vitamin D supplements.

Foods for Vitamin D

Fortified foods are good sources of Vitamin D. Add oily fishes such as sardines and salmon, eggs, fortified breakfast cereals, fortified fat spreads such as margarine and powdered milk to your diet for a greater health.

Shifa has received generous support and funding from:

Corner House 2 Courtenay Road Woking Surrey

GU21 5HQ

07897 316 978

info@shifa-woking.org.uk

www.shifa-woking.org.uk

D ONATE TO SHIFA

As a voluntary organisation, we would love your help and donations, which will enable us to continue

providing help to local Asian women. We always need additional funds to allow us to operate fully,

and to provide enhanced services to our service users. To donate please contact us on 01483 757461.

About Shifa Shifa is a local, voluntary-sector organisation that provides

information, support, advice and advocacy services to Asian

women in a supportive environment. Shifa has been operating

for over 9 years and prioritises services to Asian women who are

marginalised, experiencing disadvantage or having difficulty in

accessing services elsewhere.

We celebrate these women, their courage and the power of our

community to strengthen and heal!