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BUSINESS CONSULTING & MARKETING OUR VISION FOR YOU Our vision is to create a world in which women are valued and where they can affect positive change in their lives and in their communities. Marketing Support STAFf skills analysis Board development Project evaluation Bid WRITING Income generation planning Business and Future Planning ​ ​ We strive to encourage all women to recognise their own unique beauty, to live their dreams and to realise their full potential. One of our key pillars is to provide excellent business support to other women-led or women-focused businesses and charities. Our team of highly professional and experienced business consultants can support your business to grow and thrive and we have provided services to both local and national organisations. ​ For more information on our consultancy services email siobhan@shaktiwomen.com or give us a call: 0121 233 1670 or 07973 666 567

HELLO BEAUTIFUL. WANT SOME MORE SHAKTI MAGIC? BECOME A SHAKTI DIAMOND WHAT PEOPLE SAY I was apprehensive about joining the course but I have thoroughly enjoyed each session. I have learnt how to participate in chat rooms, use smartboard and share images. Women Walking on Water I really enjoy our weekly walks by the canal with the Shakti Women. It is so refreshing and great to talk to other women because I don't get out very much. My charity budgets have grown 500%, our number of beneficiaries 600%, our staff has gone from 1 founder to an empowered female CEO, with an assistant and 10 freelance coaches. My advice to you: take the plunge! My counselling session is going so well. She feels like a friend. I feel so comfortable and she's really helping me unpack everything. Talk Therapy Zoom Bootcamp Consultancy Client Girls Club Staff Comment Working for Shakti has been one of the most rewarding and dynamic experiences I've had. I love that we are serving women in this holistic way, with such compassion and respect for their inner beauty and power. Shakti Girls Club I found the sessions really helpful. It helped me to stand up for myself and to remember my worth because I am ONE in a BILLION. Womanhood As a performer the production was phenomenal. I feel inspired to move on to the next part of my journey using my superpower of dance. Shakti reminded me of that. Volunteer Feedback I enjoyed working at Shakti. The staff are so kind and I learnt so much in a short period of time. OUR SERVICES Shakti membership group SHAKTI WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY SHAKTI Galz club Business consultancy & MArketing SHAKTI PINK PAPER COACHING AND MENTORING Shakti Self-Care Videos Self-care is important to us at Shakti Women. We believe that women should look after themselves so we've created a series of videos to help you unravel. Find a brief moment of peace in all the madness. Sit back and let your favourite dance and yoga teacher, Monica, guide you through a moment of tranquillity with our relaxing yoga sessions. Or why don't you dance like no one is watching... if you've been feeling like getting active, we have some groovy, waist moving, heart-pumping dance moves to make you feel alleviated. ​ Perhaps you've been experiencing a mixed bag of emotions during this pandemic. We certainly have! Our creative writing workshops are a great way to process the good, the bad and the ugly of life in and after lockdown. Whatever you're looking for, we've got you. Everything is just a click away.

WOMEN 2 WOMEN When women support women incredible things happen The Women2Women Consortium is a safe, informal space where you can meet and talk to other women business leaders, social entrepreneurs and third-sector experts to gain insight, advice and guidance, and simply to share your challenges and triumphs with like-minded people. There’s still so much to talk about, so let’s keep the momentum going. We already have 167 members and counting, so why haven't you joined us yet? ​ Sign up today by emailing hello@shaktiwomen.com with the subject "W2W I'M IN". Tell us a bit about your organisation and what you do. ​ ​ ​ ​ 202 CLUB In 2018 the World Economic Forum predicted that it would take 202 years for the gender gap to close and, since the pandemic hit, it's now predicted to take even longer. ​ We simply cannot wait that long. We have to do whatever we can now to push forward issues around gender equality including the pay gap, violence against women and girls, women in leadership and so much more. Together, we are stronger. ​ Join the 202 Club to have your say and play your part in lobbying for change. ​ Email hello@shaktiwomen.com subject "202 I'M IN". WOMEN 2 WATCH As part of our Women2Women project we spoke to leaders of women's organisations. Read more about our amazing women and their organisations, click below or head over to our blog to see more articles. Namywa, GirlGrindUK View Article Liv Garfield, Severn Trent View Article Dr Pauline Roche View Article PC Andrea Reynolds View Article

MENTORING AND COACHING WHY GET A MENTOR? BOOK FREE CONSULTATION “Every successful woman knows that having a great mentor is her key to unlocking her creativity and her intuition.” ​ Over the years Shakti Women have interviewed hundreds of women about the issues they face in everyday life as business or professional women. The key issue we heard time and time again was ISOLATION. Having an experienced, professional person to bounce ideas around with or a highly qualified person to talk through your options or to give you clear impartial advice can make the difference between “just about managing” and thriving! Family and friends are amazing but they all have biased opinions of you and probably your business or professional life that can get in the way of decision-making. Sometimes it’s YOU that is getting in the way of your own progress. Shakti Women's mentoring programme is a unique approach to mentoring based on the following key principle: If you could see the whole picture, you would be the best person to make decisions about your life, work or business. You may already know the answers but need space and a qualified, impartial board behind you to help you to come to your own conclusions and to make informed, well thought through decisions. WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT MENTORING? Research shows that businesses whose leaders have mentors are 85% more likely to succeed than those without. ​ With a Shakti mentor... You get space to listen to yourself and think things through. You get a sounding board to sound out new ideas. You get to speak to someone who has walked in your shoes. You get to speak to someone who believes that YOU and only YOU are in the best position to understand your career or business and that when you have all the facts, only YOU can decide where you are going. You get to speak to someone (when you do need industry-specific advice) who has the answers or can sign-post you to the people that do. When we started showing women how mentoring worked they all said the same thing: “I don’t think I have ever really been listened to before.” ​ What exactly is the difference between mentoring, coaching, advice and therapy, though? mentoring Therapy We are professional women experienced in some area of business or professional development and highly trained in effective listening, visioning and empowering techniques. We listen, reflect, strategise, challenge and act as a sounding board. We support you to focus on your priorities. Psychotherapy is the treatment of a physical, mental or social disorder. Often talk therapy helps us to simply feel heard in order to make sense of our dilemmas. Counselling is basically professional assistance and guidance in resolving personal or psychological problems. Advice Advice is about suggesting the best course of action to take based on the advisor's knowledge and experience. Advice may give you tips about how to run your life or your business (albeit based upon a wealth of industry-specific experience). Coaching You know exactly where you want to go and just need someone in your corner to help you set and reach your deadlines. A coach will be there to hold you accountable and keep you on track. ABOUT OUR MENTORS ​ ​ Shakti Women is training new mentors all the time. Most have a background in either business, professional development, life coaching or therapeutic & NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) counselling. They have all also undertaken our in-house mentoring training (ILM or SFEDI standard) to ensure their listening skills are up to our standard and that they are able to promote the values and mission of Shakti Women. ​ Finding the perfect fit is about trial and error - try before you buy. All of our mentors offer a 15-minute FREE consultation. Whilst it’s not vital you like your mentor, it is important that you feel safe, a sense of trust and the confidence to share all of your personal and professional dilemmas. So, it’s really worth you shopping around and finding the perfect fit! ​ It's the best investment I have ever made and the most productive hour of every month." “The breakthrough I received was and is priceless” “The sessions are effective, thought provoking and beneficial” “I always leave my mentoring session feeling energised and ready to take on the next challenge” HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? ​ ​

WE ARE: SHAKTI GALZ WHY SHAKTI GALZ? “And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.” Our girls are the future, and research tells us that whilst girls do better at school, are more likely to go to university and have been outperforming boys in languages, maths and science for decades, they are much less likely to see these gains in the professional and business world. ​ So, what's happening to our girls? Here's a breakdown of the statistics that we think paint a revealing picture of why this is: ​ 1:3 girls in schools in the UK have reported experiencing unwanted sexual touching (Women & Equalities Committee). 37% of teenage girls are experiencing some sort of symptom of mental ill health. (DoE) 2:3 experienced body loathing because of pressures from social media. (DoE) Various studies suggest that it’s socialisation and negative gender expectations that slow our girls down. In other words, our society teaches girls to play small and play it safe! ​ Well, that’s not the Shakti way... . We want our girls to shine academically and aspire to the professional status they deserve. ​ We want our girls to learn the basic tools they will need to fight negativity and stereotypes, to raise their aspirations and build their confidence. Every Easter and summer we run a fun activity-based Girls' Club. ​ Our Girls' Club is designed to keep their dreams alive, to help them navigate the social negativity that remains in our society and to have a grounding that says: “She believed she could, so she did.” ​ We focus on topics like: Who Am I? A Journey of Self-discovery. Assertiveness: Saying no to others and yes to our dreams. Self-esteem and Self-confidence - understanding the difference and nurturing both. Managing My Mojo - building and maintaining inner strength and resilience. Healthy Relationships - understanding the core essentials & dealing with the “haters” Social Media - understanding the uses and avoiding the abuses. If you like the sound of that, then sign up to our newsletter or email: hello@shaktiwomen.com to ensure you’re on our database and get invited to the next club in 2021. BECOME A SPONSOR What did you get out of today? Shakti Galz "Confidence." " Learning how to think positively about my self image." What was your favourite thing? Shakti Galz "Getting to know everyone and the instructors by doing fun activities." Testimonial Shakti Galz Testimonial Shakti Galz I was apprehensive about taking my daughter to Shakti because she has recently told me she feels petrified talking to people. However, at the end of each session I was mindful not to interrogate her. Lauren was very forthcoming and chatted away detailing the activities she participated in that session. For me this is a big thing because she is so very shy. We both appreciate and we are very thankful for the 3 days in which Shakti delivered. For more information about Shakti Girls email girltalk@shaktiwomen.com or give us a call: 0121 233 1670 ​ If you want to find out about there next cub sign up to our Follow our instagram page

WE ARE A REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY... Our dedication to changing the lives of women doesn't start and stop at business and personal development. For years we have been working side by side our communities to create impact and inspire positive change, but there is still work to be done. ​ We are always making new connections and links and looking out for people who are ready to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. If you want to get involved with any of our projects, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you! ​ As well as our amazing projects we also offer key services for business and marketing, training room hire, studio hire, workspace hire and coaching and mentoring. ​ 2022 PROJECTS Womanhood: Dance Project We use dance as an expressive art form to depict the joys, the rage, the pain, the sensuality, and the burdens of being a woman in today’s society.This project aim build the confidence and self-esteem of our users as we explore their hidden depths. So, whether they were an experienced dancer or a beginner this project was all centred around movement and it's ability to heal, restore, express and support women in regaining their power. Womanhood: Dance Project We worked with women from various walks of life to flex their creative muscles, let their imagination flow and spiralling thoughts to paper in this light and friendly creative writing workshop. We encouraged women through spoken & written word, to explore the joys, the rage, the pain, the sensuality, and of being a woman. To define, celebrate, and express their womanhood. 2021 PROJECTS Money Awareness Project So many women have struggled with job losses whilst lock-down after lockdown has seen a significant rise in on-line spending. Women tell us they are drowning under debt and finances are “out of control”. The money club will support us all to review our income and expenditure, practice budgeting and thrift, manage debt and create an affordable savings plan. ​ As women we deserve to live a life without financial worries. Job Club The Shakti Job Club can help you with local employment support when you need it. You will receive individualised support and you will be a part of a women-only tribe where you’ll build your skills a nd confidence to navigate the workplace. Over the next 12 months we will offer a delightful and engaging menu of work related skills, including confidence building, understanding your unique selling points (USP), the importance of networking & allies, understanding your learning styles, dressing for success, communication & team building skills. Bun & Say Cheese Women's Marketing Project ​ Shakti is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable in the community and during lockdown and one of those groups were our elders, who told us they were lonely, isolated and sometimes living in fear of the world around them. This project was dedicated to supporting our elders (men and women) in North West Birmingham who were worried about the future and afraid for their safety and that of their loved ones. So we've found a way to bridge the gap. We are offered activity packs, food parcels which we delivered safely to their door, as well as one-to-one telephone counselling. This project was highly-valued by more than fifty elders, who enjoyed hot nutritious food but more so the knowledge that their community cared. During the lockdown many valuable organisations closed down their doors, including women's organisations dedicated to supporting women in all areas and stages of their lives. Eventhough, this was the case many new organisations emerged. We were determined to know who was still out there and how we could help by shining a light on their amazing work. During the course of this project we: Identified almost 200 organisations Created the women2women consortium Established the 202 club Offered mentoring and marketing support to a further 20 organisations. Offered free bid writing workshops to 103 organisations Provided 17 women with our confidence building workshops Although this project has come to an end if you know of any women's organisations interested in being interviewed please email us we would love to talk to them. Women Walking on Water ​ Water has so many benefits, not just for the skin and the body but for the soul too. It nourishes us in so many ways. When we feel overwhelmed, we might light some candles, run a nice hot bath and soak away our sorrows. Well, we have launched a project all about water and wellbeing, aimed to get women walking and talking around Birmingham’s beautiful canals and to write creatively about water and its healing properties. Due to the new lockdown restrictions, we have been unable to gather to do our weekly group walks, but that doesn’t mean we won’t walk. So, join our Facebook community page where we will be sending in pictures of our individual walks.​ Weekly Coffee Mornings ​ Open to all women, our weekly Coffee Mornings are a safe space for women to talk, share, laugh and just be themselves. It takes place online and is usually hosted by our wonderful facilitator, Claudette, but is currently hosted by Danielle. Once lockdown eases, we will be hosting the coffee mornings in-person at our beautiful venue on Newhall Street. To register to receive the weekly Zoom links, please email hello@shaktiwomen.com and if you are't familiar with Zoom, someone will give you a call to assist. ​ 2020 PROJECTS Lockdown Diaries Since March 2020 we have been collecting your stories. The fears, the armpit beards (we know!), the losses and the triumphs that so many women have dealt with, as well as the new discoveries we have made about ourselves in this period of intense self-refection. If you have a poem, piece of prose, or anything to share, we want to hear it. Send it to womanlywords@shaktiwomen.com . Body Love: Girls Club This year our workshops were on self-care. We danced, we designed, we had a playful photoshoot and we painted our portraits onto canvas. The four days of sessions were designed to encourage self-love and self-reflection. Follow @shaktigalz for motivational messages designed by and for ShaktiGalz. Past Projects 2019 You Go Girls: Girls' Club A summer of participation, activity, consultation and fun that included rock-climbing, outdoor games, yoga, meditation, and so much more, all designed to build confidence and raise aspirations. 2019 The Misogyny Trials ​ We want to see more women writing and published. It began with creative writing workshops, it ended with 130 women, 10 plays, 3 sell-out performances, over 30,000 community engagements on-line and regional BBC radio coverage. You can help to support our artists and future creations by purchasing your copy of these powerful plays by women, for women from our 'Treats ' page. 2018 Womanly Words & Girls Confidence & Aspirations This year we are ran our second Womanly Words project that included workshops in creative writing, script writing, poetry and prose bringing our unique voices to life. We ran our second second year of Girls Club, engaging with girls aged 8 - 12 and 13-16 over the Easter & Summer holidays. We covered body confidence, writing your future, social media and finding your mojo. ​ 2017 Girls Leadership Pilot Our girls start out with so much potential but often they loose confidence through their school years. We want to help them identify their innate leadership potential and to begin the journey of nurturing their growth and development. ​ ​ 2016 Bring a Book to Dinner All year we asked women about their favourite stories and the ones they read to their daughters. As usual we wanted books with strong female characters. The year culminated with a celebration of our books over a delicious 4 course dinner. ​ 2015 Womanly Words. This was a series of writing and spoken word workshops designed to encourage more women and girls to write. 245 women and girls participated in our workshops which included confidence building, script writing, poetry, storytelling and Spoken word. The project produced 100 copies of an anthology of poetry and included 20 new writers. Shakti Women also donated £250 to the best writer. ​ 2014 Books for Women and Girls. This project evolved from the mentoring programme and raised over £700 for schools to purchase more books with powerful female characters. It culminated with an event Bring a Book to Dinner, where attendees shared discussions about their favourite empowering books. ​ 2013 Girls Mentoring project, Mosaic. This project encouraged women to volunteer, train and mentor girls at primary schools across Birmingham. ​ 2012 Snowden Challenge. This project was a challenge to 8 women to make the climb and overcome their fears. ​ ​ 2011 Soup and Socks. This project encouraged women across the city to donate soup and socks to the homeless. ​ 2010 Active Women. A health programme to encourage more women to exercise and eat healthier food. Workshops including cooking, yoga, nutrition, raw food, fitness tasters and culminated in a 5 year weekly exercise programme for women at Edgbaston reservoir. ​ 2008 – Leadership & Peer Mentoring Programme for Women. This project identified and trained 21 women in the skills of leadership, empowering self and others. ​ 2007 – Your Time to Shine Talent Show. This project identified 5 girls aged 16 – 19, and supported them to develop the skills of project management, marketing, financial management and team working. The girls in turn worked with the artists to improve confidence and their performances. The project was a huge success culmination in a show celebrating 20 young artists and attracting an audience of over 100 at the Mockingbird Theatre in Digbeth. ​ ​

Our Membership “Every woman deserves a little Shakti Magic in her life.” Lifelong Member ​ At shakti women we provide the support you need to get to the next level. With a delightful mix of business, personal and professional development, we have everything you need to succeed. ​ The on-line membership programme meets monthly, and we share decades of professional development in bite-sized, digestible chunks, so that your growth is rapid and effortless. ​ But more importantly, we create spaces (both in person and on-line) where women feel valued, respected, and encouraged. That means in addition to the acceleration of learning, to begin to grow in confidence and stature with a tribe of sisters at your side. Your Investment Our annual Diamond Membership package is £300 per year of £30 a month, this is includes: A Monthly Learning Session A monthly group mentoring session Access to all of our delicious how-to guides and workbooks form writing a simple business plan, designing your life to writing a career plan. Our Offer Sign up TODAY and you get everything in the Diamond package plus an extra 4 mentoring sessions, plus an extra 2 months membership - that’s 14 months, for the one off price of £150. JOIN NOW Applz Sandra, Body Symphony “Shakti Women reminded me that I had wings and that I could fly. Or if my wings needed healing they were there to aid there recovery. I am flying now and learnt to rest too.” Reasons to Choose Shakti We have almost 20 years’ experience of person growth and professional development and have already supported tens of thousands of women to own their power. Value For Money We are the best but remain the best value professional women’s network. We Stand For Excellence You know that all our materials and trainers represent quality We Nurture You We know you are unique and we offer you the space and the opportunity to focus and nurture YOU. Range of Workshops We provide a delicious mix of workshops from professional development to personal development. We know you are not compartmentalised, therefore we serve the whole YOU. We Support Your Dreams You know you are supported 150% by Shakti Women and it’s members – here your dreams and your aspirations are respected and encouraged All Women Are Accepted You know that we have “zero” tolerance towards discrimination. We respect all members of our community. Support Your Physical Health We recognise that a brilliant mind must be supported by a healthy body and we provide fitness training alongside our professional development Want You To Be WHOLE We believe that “work on your career or your business and you make a living, work on yourself and you “make a life” and are the only professional development organisation that supports the whole you.

CURRENT PROJECTS Write Mind: Creative Writing We want women to harness their inner strength and develop the tools they need to navigate everyday challenges and build powerful networks. We provide a series of writing, talking and self-development workshops designed to help women explore these issues, express their feeling and find their voice. ​ We use creative writing to give women the ability to express their feelings such as anger, rage, confusion and create spaces where women can develop their strength and resilience and self-care tools. Giving women the power to be more resilient in response to new and future challenges. Self-Expression Session ​ The empowerment-focused project in parntenrship with Jan Foundation aims to provide women with powerful outlets, to destress and connect with themselves on a deeper level. By engaging in these creative forms, women can explore their emotions, express themselves freely, and cultivate a strong sense of personal well-being. As women we carry so much, so we listened and created workshops that help to alleviate stress and foster deeper self-awareness. Here's a peak at some of the workshops we have done : Self-love Meditation Art Yoga Songwriting Spoken Word ​ Every Tuesday, 7 pm & Saturday 10am at the Shakti Office. ​ Shakti Saturday Girls Club ​ A weekly Saturday Club for girls to meet, develop their creativity and be their most authentic, audacious and vibrant selves. ​ We aspire to raise the confidence and aspirations of young girls aged 9 -15 . We support them by growing them into successful women. We are no longer raising girls but future CEO's, business women, lawyers, artists - whatever they desire. We want to cultivate strong minded, brilliant and talented girls that take life by the horns. ​ We are not your typcial Saturday Club teaching girls how to win academically but we are teaching girls to win in LIFE. Every Saturday in June from !pm - 3pm. ​ Domestic Abuse Awareness Shakti Women, in collaboration with the Jan Foundation, compassionately presents a series of workshops on Domestic Violence awareness. We aim to shed light on the various forms of abuse, including physical, domestic, sexual, psychological, financial, and more. Whether you are a survivor or have experienced loss due to Domestic Violence, this workshop is dedicated to supporting you. Join us in a safe, educational, and open environment on Zoom. Time: 7pm - 9pm. ​ Creative City: Womanhood ​ Exploring Womanhood, will work with ordinary women to define, celebrate, and express their womanhood. We encourage women through dance, drama, spoken & written word, to explore the joys, the rage, the pain, the sensuality, and the burdens of being a woman in today’s society. We will use dance, themed workshops, and creative writing to help women to explore the impact of these everyday issues, focusing on some common themes of Sexuality, Sensuality, Rage, Power, Subjugation, Resurrection, Power, Shame, Abuse, Sexism & Misogyny that so many women deal with on a daily basis. Attracting a curious & eclectic mix of women of all ages & ethnicities to our participatory workshops. We anticipate this project to be a cacophony of voices. We will be upholding the values of the commonwealth by Inspiring, engaging and connecting communities through creative writing and dance, to realise their full potential and live happier, healthier lives.This project will build the confidence and self-esteem of our users as we explore their hidden depths. So, whether you’re a budding writer, want to talk or let your hair down, bring“her”, whoever “she” maybe, out to play. Flex your creative muscles, let your imagination flow and put your spiralling thoughts to paper in this light and friendly creative writing workshop. All levels and abilities welcome. Creative Writing: Every Thursday at 7pm, on Women2Women This project is designed to improve connectivity and highlight the services available to women by other women’s organisations. We are updating our database of Birmingham-based women’s organisations and will be hosting a series of workshops and networking sessions aimed at building our social connections, reducing the isolation that often comes from working alone and, of course, celebrating all of our amazing work. Interested in joining? Call Siobhan on 0121 233 1670 or register for your free space at our online ​ Creative Writing Guides ​ Perhaps you have been feeling a mixed bag of emotions during this pandemic. If so, we have the perfect antidote. Our short creative writing workshops on YouTube are a great way to process what's been coming up for you this lockdown and any anxieties you may have about life after it. Oh, and don't forget to check out the free, downloadable worksheets that accompany each video on our 'Treats' page. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Shakti Body Love ​ Self-care is queen. We want you to keep active but we know it's not easy to get motivated, so why not do one of our shorter workouts and maybe even a gentle and relaxing yoga session? We've created these videos for YouTube as a way for you to treat yourself. Each video is a call to love your body through the movement of dance and yoga but with a little Shakti twist. Join the amazing Monica Douglas-Clark as she leads us in play and let’s have some fun and a few laughs as we celebrate our glorious bodies. Just click on the topic you fancy below and the link will take you to our YouTube Channel: ​ Shakti Body Love Earth Groove Dance Workout Shakti Body Love Black and Gold Shakti Body Love Energise Shakti Body Love Feel Shakti Body Love Release Shakti Body Love Relax Shakti Body Love Benefits of Yoga Shakti Body Love Is Yoga for You? ​ Enjoy xox

SHAKTI RESEARCH Shakti Women leaders all have a grounding in research. Siobhan has held 3 research fellowship positions with the University of Birmingham and Keele University. We also have a long track record of talking to our beneficiaries about what women want. Our primary and secondary research is the cornerstone of our work and informs all of our projects. As well as our own PINK PAPER, updated every 4 years, we have been commissioned by a range of stakeholders to consult with the sector and to support tomorrow’s leaders. For more information talk to Siobhan. What is the Pink Paper? ​ At the current rate of progress, it could take another 200 years before women experience true gender equality. We’re not waiting that long; we want progress now! ​ At Shakti we pride ourselves in doing work that is grounded in 'need', so as well as regularly asking you what you want with our own surveys, we collect and collate the research that’s currently out there. ​ The Pink Paper is 80+ pages of research about the issues affecting women and girls in the UK today, from pay and mental health, to representation and the workplace. ​ Head over to our 'treats' page to download our Pink Paper. ​ You'd be a fool not to, so, get downloading! ​

YOUNG CREATIVES WHO ARE WE? Young Creatives is a new initiative developed by Shakti as a response to requests for help from young people in our network. Our young people breaking into the creative industries told us they needed help to: ​ develop their business ideas market their services meet and connect with other successful creatives and business leaders price their products and/or services ​ They also told us they needed a space to meet and share ideas with other young creatives. We decided we wanted to offer help but we ultimately wanted to be able to stand back and let these amazing young people build an organisation for themselves. ​ In the past 12 months we have: 1. provided a professional space for them to meet and share ideas – The Studio 2. supported them to create a steering committee to drive the project 3. supported them to write their memorandum of articles 3. supported them to launch and register their own CIC ​ We have also approached 28 local business leaders all of whom have agreed to offer 1 hour of mentoring support to the individual businesses within the group. ​ Now, let’s watch them shine! ​ ​ ​ If you are aged 18+ and interested in joining the Young Creatives, email hello@shaktiwomen.com. ​ We educate, create and equip young people like you with the resources to pursue artistic avenues as well as cultivate business skills. We aim to enhance your business acumen and creative skills, finding you opportunities and encouraging you to have a can-do attitude. We break down barriers that may be stopping you from excelling in your creative practice, especially during these uncertain times. Furthermore, we have created a community of likeminded individuals who share experiences and support one other through community, partnerships and collaborations. ​ Here's what the Young Creatives can help you with: 1. Business – education around branding, creating opportunities, being digital, building portfolios and freelancing, etc. 2. Personal Skills – Professionalism, enhancing creativity and developing healthy mindsets and attitudes as a creative 3. Mentorship – working one-on-one with industry professionals gaining lucrative skills and networking prospects and training. ​ How to get involved? ​If you are interested or know a young creative who might be, then drop us an email to hello@shaktiwomen.com.

WHAT WE OFFER Write Mind: Creative Writing We want women to harness their inner strength and develop the tools they need to navigate everyday challenges and build powerful networks. We provide a series of writing, talking and self-development workshops designed to help women explore these issues, express their feeling and find their voice. ​ We use creative writing to give women the ability to express their feelings such as anger, rage, confusion and create spaces where women can develop their strength and resilience and self-care tools. Giving women the power to be more resilient in response to new and future challenges. Self-Expression Session ​ The empowerment-focused project in parntenrship with Jan Foundation aims to provide women with powerful outlets, to destress and connect with themselves on a deeper level. By engaging in these creative forms, women can explore their emotions, express themselves freely, and cultivate a strong sense of personal well-being. As women we carry so much, so we listened and created workshops that help to alleviate stress and foster deeper self-awareness. Here's a peak at some of the workshops we have done : Self-love Meditation Art Yoga Songwriting Spoken Word ​ Every Tuesday, 7pm & Saturday 10am at the Shakti Office. ​ Shakti Saturday Girls Club ​ A weekly Saturday Club for girls to meet, develop their creativity and be their most authentic, audacious and vibrant selves. ​ We aspire to raise the confidence and aspirations of young girls aged 9 -15 . We support them by growing them into successful women. We are no longer raising girls but future CEO's, business women, lawyers, artists - whatever they desire. We want to cultivate strong minded, brilliant and talented girls that take life by the horns. ​ We are not your typcial Saturday Club teaching girls how to win academically but we are teaching girls to win in LIFE. Every Saturday in June from !pm - 3pm. ​ Domestic Abuse Awareness Shakti Women, in collaboration with the Jan Foundation, compassionately presents a series of workshops on Domestic Violence awareness. We aim to shed light on the various forms of abuse, including physical, domestic, sexual, psychological, financial, and more. Whether you are a survivor or have experienced loss due to Domestic Violence, this workshop is dedicated to supporting you. Join us in a safe, educational, and open environment on Zoom. Time: 7pm - 9pm. ​ Creative City: Womanhood ​ Exploring Womanhood, will work with ordinary women to define, celebrate, and express their womanhood. We encourage women through dance, drama, spoken & written word, to explore the joys, the rage, the pain, the sensuality, and the burdens of being a woman in today’s society. We will use dance, themed workshops, and creative writing to help women to explore the impact of these everyday issues, focusing on some common themes of Sexuality, Sensuality, Rage, Power, Subjugation, Resurrection, Power, Shame, Abuse, Sexism & Misogyny that so many women deal with on a daily basis. Attracting a curious & eclectic mix of women of all ages & ethnicities to our participatory workshops. We anticipate this project to be a cacophony of voices. We will be upholding the values of the commonwealth by Inspiring, engaging and connecting communities through creative writing and dance, to realise their full potential and live happier, healthier lives.This project will build the confidence and self-esteem of our users as we explore their hidden depths. So, whether you’re a budding writer, want to talk or let your hair down, bring“her”, whoever “she” maybe, out to play. Flex your creative muscles, let your imagination flow and put your spiralling thoughts to paper in this light and friendly creative writing workshop. All levels and abilities welcome. Creative Writing: Every Thursday at 7pm, on Women2Women This project is designed to improve connectivity and highlight the services available to women by other women’s organisations. We are updating our database of Birmingham-based women’s organisations and will be hosting a series of workshops and networking sessions aimed at building our social connections, reducing the isolation that often comes from working alone and, of course, celebrating all of our amazing work. Interested in joining? ​ ​ ​

Meet The Trustees Siobhan Harper-Nunes Secretary & Director Cheryl Garvey Chair of Shakti Women in the Community Claudette Dawson Consultant Trainer Esther Ogunfeitimi Communication Manager & Project Leader Sharon Brown Personal Assistant & Finance Officer Let's Talk Team Pauline Anderson Counsellor Dr Lalitaa Suglani Psychologist Chantelle Atkinson Psychologist Anni Alo Counsellor Dr Dippica Mistry Counsellor Ann Louise Powell Life Coach