6: From Aspiration towards Integration

This chapter presents research findings from the second year of delivery of the women's project. The women's project activities in year two were centred again on the weekly provision of workshops, with ESOL classes and childcare provided ‘in kind’ alongside. There was also a structured mentoring programme delivered by volunteers in year two that focused on working with the women to set goals and identify objectives towards these goals, with progress reviewed together in mentoring sessions.

In year one, the project was achieving its aim of engaging migrant Muslim women from conservative families that other services fail to reach, and was working towards its aims to facilitate their empowerment and integration. In year two, the project was achieving its longer-term aim of encouraging women to volunteer at events and workshops. Women were volunteering to cook, bring and share food at the workshops and to organise social events. Three of the women who attended the project also delivered workshops in year two.