Aspire’s 2024 Highlights!

2024 has been a great year for Aspire! Take a look at some of our highlights:

We launched our Breakfast Club! Every Friday morning 9.30am - 11.30am Aspire provides our women with a warm, healthy, complimentary breakfast! The breakfast club has turned into a lovely opportunity for our Aspire women to meet together, make friends and have a chat.

Aspire celebrated International Women’s Day! It was a lovely day celebrating the achievements of women and creating an environment to encourage women’s equality. The theme for 2024 was #InspireInclusion which emphasised the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society. The campaign called for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected.

Aspire continued the International Women’s Day celebrations at Beamish Museum at the suffragette march!

Aspire was visited by Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen to chat to our Supporting Sisters and find out about our peer-led support services!

Aspire had an egg-cellent time celebrating Easter by making Easter bonnets, making Easter crafts, Easter quizzes and egg rolling competitions!

Aspire celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week by #wearingitgreen! The theme for 2024 was encouraging movement to improve our mental health. Each of our groups incorporated movement into their sessions and wore green to show support!

Aspire celebrated the work of our amazing volunteers during Volunteers Week 2024! Aspire’s work would not be able to happen without the time dedicated by our Supporting Sisters! In 2023, Aspire’s volunteers offered 11,451 hours of support!

Aspire’s gardening group were double award winners of the Chester-le-Street In Bloom Best Dressed Window Competition! We won the Blooming Good Fun Award and The People’s Choice Award!

Aspire launched monthly Extra Socials. These themed afternoons were a great way to celebrate various events over the year such as St Patricks Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas! They are a lovely opportunity for Aspire women to build friendships, have a laugh and lots of fun!

We had a wonderful afternoon at our Celebration Afternoon Tea at Chester-le-Street Cricket Club!

Aspire took part in Chester-le-Street Market Activity Week!

Aspire Ambassadors have done a wonderful job this year representing Aspire at various events and raising awareness of the work that Aspire does for women in the local community!

Aspire staff and volunteers went to the Gala Theatre to see the Open Clasp Production of Mycelial!

Aspire hosted a World Mental Health Day brunch! The focus of World Mental Health Day 2024 was to come together to talk about our mental health and show that mental health matters!

Aspire launched a Citizen’s Advice drop-in service every Friday morning 9.30 - 11.30am where Aspire women can access free, confidential advice on benefits, energy supply and making their home warmer for winter.

Aspire had various generous donations from Asda Washington Community Champion, Eve!

Aspire recognised White Ribbon Day 2024. The theme for 2024 was ‘It Starts With Men’ to address the harmful attitudes and behaviours that contribute to a fear of violence for women in their day-to-day lives. Aspire then participated in 16 days of activism to raise awareness and help eliminate violence against women and girls. For Aspire, this involved a social media campaign raising awareness of 16 different types of violence that women experience worldwide. Aspire women were also encouraged to take a white ribbon as a symbol of their promise to ‘Never Use, Excuse, or Remain Silent about Men’s Violence Against Women’

Aspire had a Christmas Celebration Night at the Chester-le-Street Cricket Club!