Peony

Peony runs in the community for women who are ready to move on from crisis.

Peony offers three afternoons of therapeutic and meaningful activity to women who have faced multiple disadvantages. It’s central to One25’s vision to see marginalised women in Bristol move from crisis to community.

The programme is staffed by a team of fantastic workshop facilitators and volunteers (some with lived experience of these issues) as well as a coordinator and two support workers. Since launching in September 2018, over 40 women have attended Peony. They come from One25 and Pause as well as via referrals from other agencies in Bristol. Women can access Peony who have experienced three of the following: homelessness, offending, mental ill health, substance misuse, domestic and/or sexual violence, or having had children removed from their care.

Sessions at Peony include art, craft, cooking, budgeting and money skills, book club, cooking, wellbeing activities like yoga, exercise, volunteering, employability and education. Women can develop their wellbeing and skills so they can reach their goals in the community. Ultimately, we hope to support women to find work and become emotionally and financially independent.