On Sunday, 1st of May, I will be running the Sunderland Half Marathon, taking in a fair few yards of asphalt, around our fair city.

Whilst achieving a personal milestone (13 to be exact!), I also hope to be able to mark the day by raising some cash for Sunderland Women's Centre, a charity based on Green Terrace, in the centre of town.

Sunderland Women’s Centre strives to ensure equality of opportunity by identifying and removing barriers to learning and by supporting women from under-represented or disadvantaged groups. The charity also takes a holistic approach to the general well-being of all women and children and promotes a positive attitude to lifelong learning.

SWC works to instil a sense of purpose and achievement, improve prospects of employment and quality of life, freely and without discrimination, by removing barriers to encourage learners who may have felt excluded, to participate in educational opportunities. The charity offers guidance, support, confidence building and awareness raising in order to promote a positive attitude to lifelong learning.

The charity aims to:

- Provide educational opportunities in the form of short/part-time courses in a range of subject areas, within family friendly hours.
- Take a holistic approach to the general well being of all/individual women.
- Promote a positive attitude to lifetime learning by offering guidance, support, confidence building and awareness-raising.
- Identify and remove barriers, thereby encouraging women who have felt excluded to participate in courses and activities.
- Provide crèche facilities on a daily basis for pre-school children in a safe educational and caring environment, open to all child carers.
- Prioritise interpersonal communication and social skills development in order to begin the empowering process for all women.
- Support groups and individuals to become active in their community via self-help groups, study space and resources.

Thanks in advance!

Dan