Aspire’s Achievements in the Past Year

  • Our Model of Working

    • Holistic

    • Person centred

    • Trauma informed

    • Asset and strength based

    • Co-produced

    • Peer led

    Four women of varying ages sitting around a table having a conversation
  • Aspire Mission & Equality Statement

    Aspire aim to provide learning opportunities, support services, information and advice within a safe and supportive environment. We encourage and enable all women to raise their aspirations and achieve their full potential.

    We are committed to providing an equal opportunity and fair treatment for all learners, volunteers and staff. We value, respect and celebrate differences through the promotion of equality and diversity.

  • Aspire's Key Priorities

    • Support women whose lives have been affected by mental health issues, self-harm & suicide

    • Help rebuild women’s lives following domestic and sexual abuse and violence

    • Build on self worth, self care and aspirations

    • Reduce loneliness and isolation

    • Support the impact of poverty

    4 mature women sitting in a semi-circle having a conversation

Aspire’s Core Values are W.I.S.E.

Whether women are coming to Aspire for the first time or the 21st time, and for whatever reason, we want all women to feel that they belong, that it's their project and that they are valued.

We do this by keeping our core values at the forefront of everything we do. These come from consultations with staff, volunteers, learners, and women who use our services for support. We wanted to embody what was important to women and how they felt about Aspire. We called these core values ‘W.I.S.E'.’ and they are embedded into everything Aspire is and does.

  • W - image of a woman in a doorway

    Welcoming

    First impressions are important to us, that applies face to face, on the end of the phone or at an online group or meeting. Our environment needs to be, and is consistently and genuinely, welcoming. We want women to know that we are happy to see them and we are there for them.

  • I - image of a ladder with two women climbing it

    Impactful

    What we see time and time again, is women thriving in our supportive, nurturing environment, being there for each other and having a positive impact on other women. Whether it’s something as simple as a chat over a cuppa, you know the impact is positive.

  • S - image of hands embracing and a house

    Safe

    We want women to know and believe they are safe, (these aren’t the same). It might be instantaneous for some, for others it can take longer and we try to help however we can. Be it a personal development course, a group or our befriending and peer support.

  • E - 2 women's hands, one in a fist, the other outstretched in a waving gesture

    Empowering

    We empower women depending on their needs and goals. Whether it’s skills, tools or confidence, we aim to enable women to make the right decisions for themselves. Women should feel empowered to cope, or ask for support, no matter what life throws at them.

Take A Look At What We Get Up To!

How Can We Help You?

Meet the Aspire Staff Team

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    Janice Rokni

    DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

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    Jan Vincent

    DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

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    Colleen Baker

    BUILDINGS AND GOVERNANCE MANAGER

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    Val Kilner

    SUPPORT SERVICES AND VOLUNTEER MANAGER

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    Helen Cowlyn

    DATA SYSTEMS & EVALUATIONS LEAD

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    Alison Duffell

    TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

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    Kay Walker

    SUPPORT & WELLBEING COORDINATOR

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    Judith Whitmore

    LEARNING ADMINISTRATOR

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    Angela Bradley

    CLEANING OPERATIVE

  • Adele Stockton

    SUPPORT & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

  • Susan Hunter

    WOMEN IN NEED SUPPORT WORKER

Aspire Staff Team

Aspire Partners and Funders

  • National Lottery Community Fund logo

  • Durham Police and Crime Comissioner logo

  • Suicide Prevention Fund logo

  • Logo for Stamp it Out County Durham

  • Happiness Hubs logo

  • NHS County Durham CCG logo

  • North East and Cumbria Suicide Prevention Network logo

  • Chester Le Street Area Action Partnership logo

  • MHA

  • European Social Fund logo