Women's Health in South Tyneside

Away from the regenerated centre of Newcastle, with its modern art centre and glossy snail-shaped opera house, are ribbons of faceless, treeless, suburb extending miles into South Tyneside. Some of these areas of endless housing contain areas of great deprivation. It's out in these anonymous suburbs that Women's Health in South Tyneside operates.

The service is able to reach women and their families who would otherwise fall through the 'safety net' - often with problems around mental health, chronic illness, unemployment, poverty or sexual abuse.

But it's also open to all women in the area. Its services range from exercise classes and cheap food, to complementary therapies, counselling and a gateway to NHS services.

A trained reflexologist, volunteering at the centre says 'I came here so as not to get isolated after retirement, but this place is like a Tardis. Someone might come in just for an exercise class, and then realise all the other things it has to offer. Now I'm on the committee and help with fundraising.'

In 1999, after years of camping in church halls and cramped offices, the service managed to build its own space. At the 'noisy end' is the creche for pre-school children and a room for tai chi, gym classes and samba. At the other are the quiet therapy and counselling rooms. The building is united by a busy cafe. Here, we found members of the credit union helping women with small loans, while a couple of homeopaths drank tea after giving free sessions.

A meanderous garden extends behind the centre, providing herbs for cooking classes and for the cafe. WHIST's food ideas extend far beyond the goverment's five-fruit-and-veg-a-day messaging. Delicious low sugar cakes are on sale. One woman said 'I'm unemployed, but I can afford the food here, and go to an exercise class where I pay what I can - usually a pound or two.'

There's a porous relationship with the PCT - many are referred to the service by their GPs for counselling and support. In turn, the service can help women get mainstream medical services, if they have problems which are beyond the scope of WHIST.

Most of all, this is a place where close friendships develop, and great changes are possible. One user of the service, who is now a volunteer says 'some women might come to the door two or three times before they pull themselves together to come in, but once they arrive you see transformations. In some cases they just become much less shy, in others it's really major, like opening their own business.'