Our work with communities in Rochdale
With funding from Rochdale Borough Council, Europia facilitated a number of workshops for EU nationals in and around Rochdale.
The workshops included women’s workshops, emotional therapy sessions, mental wellbeing workshops for young people and community cooking sessions.
Women’s Workshops
Europia ran a 3-part Healthy Relationships workshop with 15 women throughout January 2021, in partnership with Unchained Phoenix, and funded by Rochdale Borough Council.
Europia also held free Women’s workshops in partnership with Be Super You that happened throughout February 2021, focussing on experiences of hate crime and discrimination specifically for the Polish community.
Most recently Europia has worked in partnership with VESTA, an organisation that aims to empower Polish families in England and Wales. This workshop was in Polish and provided support for those in controlling and abusive relationships.
One to One Emotional Therapy Sessions
Europia’s One to One Emotional Therapy Sessions were available for any EU nationals living or working in Rochdale Borough at the time, who had experienced hate crime, discrimination or human trafficking.
These were personal sessions and were conducted in English and a range of EU languages.
Community Cooking Sessions
Our community cooking sessions were initially launched over zoom, teaching Rochdale residents how to make food from across the world in three different cooking sessions with professional chefs. Participants were able to learn how to make some of their favourite dishes whilst making some new friends in the designated cooking Facebook group. Cuisines included Chinese, Indian and Polish.
Mental Wellbeing and Resilience Sessions
We also organised Mental Wellbeing and Resilience sessions with Falinge Park High School.
In partnership with wellbeing organisation “iheart” and Falinge Park High school in Rochdale, Europia facilitated 11 weeks of mental resilience and wellbeing workshops for young EU nationals in Rochdale. These sessions were based on the iheart curriculum and were aimed to prepare young people for life so that they can manage stress, anxiety and feeling down at times and also those that just want to be the best versions of themselves too.
Anna Woodhead, the teacher that assisted in running the sessions, spoke to us about the impact the programme had on students:
“The pupils on the programme really have come on in different ways! Working with Europia and iheart has enabled me as a teacher and us as a school to ensure that the pupils who have taken part are equipped with the skills and mindset to face anything in their lives. I have watched them grow and develop as young people being comfortable in their own minds and who know where to look for help and support when they need it.”
Anna Woodhead, Subject Lead at Falinge Park High School
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