Extended Hands

Extended Hands provides care and support to help women and girls who have lost their sense of hope and meaning to live and thrive again.

Some of the ways they do this is by connecting women with local support and networks, delivering skills opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and removing the barriers for women into volunteering and job opportunities. They can also provide home, hospital, and prison visits.

They also have a women-only therapy support group, led by a qualified counsellor, twice a month.

Extended Hands also hold various fun and engaging activities, including:

• Coffee and tea mornings
• Fitness and Zumba classes
• Social/community activities
• Workshops on various topics such as crafts and gardening

What to expect

You will be greeted very warmly by Flora, who runs Extended Hands. Feel free to ring her to ask about any of the activities or events, or any other queries you have. Tea, coffee and snacks are available at the sessions in St Mary's Church.

The ladies who attend say how this women-only space, and especially Flora, makes them feel welcome, safe, heard, and enables them to learn, grow, gain confidence, and have fun! Many felt lonely and isolated before starting to attend. Now they feel they are part of a lovely community, and have purpose and meaning.

Visit their website and Facebook pages for more information about the activities and events.

More information

Most of the activities and events are held at St. Mary's Church, on the Boongate Roundabout.

There are a few steps to the main entrance of the church, with a ramp suitable for wheelchair access to the side of the steps. The group meets on the first floor; there are stairs immediately to the right as you enter the church, and a lift straight ahead through the next set of doors - see the video below for how to enter the building and get to the room. There are toilets, including a disabled one, on the first floor.

They only have parking onsite for 6 cars, one of which is reserved for the disabled, and these are often engaged. Contact Flora if you need disabled access.

Otherwise there are several public carparks nearby, on Brook Street and near the City College, which are only a few minutes' walk. There are bus stops nearby on New Road and St John's Street.

The activities and support are free of charge, though donations are always welcome.

See how to get up to the room on the first floor of St Mary's Church via the stairs (note there's also a lift through the double doors inside the entrance):