Situation:
The Owenbeg Women’s Group was established 18 months ago through collaboration between an MDT Social Work Team based within a GP practice in Downpatrick and local women accessing the service.
The need for the group emerged through direct engagement between the social workers and patients. Many women identified experiences of bereavement, social isolation and mental health challenges, highlighting a gap in locally available social and wellbeing opportunities that could provide support during difficult periods of their lives.
At the same time, members of the MDT Downpatrick Women’s Walking Group expressed an interest in developing a wellbeing-focused group where they could meet regularly, learn new skills, and build social connections.
Today, the group has 20 regular members who attend weekly sessions. Membership has grown though word of mouth, referrals via social prescribing within GP practice, and participation in the local walking group. The centrally located venue ensures accessibility for women from across the community.
Task:
A scoping exercise was undertaken with social workers and walking group members to identify needs and priorities. Through a co-produced approach, plans were developed collaboratively, with agreement reached on the group’s location, activities, and meeting times.
From the outset, the group has been fully co-produced, with members actively involved in shaping all aspects of its development, including activities, venue selection, meeting schedules, group guidelines, and future planning. Trust MDT seed funding has supported venue costs and enabled the involvement of facilitators who deliver workshops and activities.
Action:
The group welcomes women of all ages, currently ranging from their 20’s to their 80’s, creating opportunities for intergenerational connection and support. Members participate in a wide range of activities including arts and crafts, gardening, music, cooking and physical activity sessions.
On-going evaluation is embedded within the group’s development to ensure it continues to meet the needs of members and identify opportunities for improvement. Communication is maintained through a What’s App group, alongside regular feedback sessions and meetings involving both the MDT Social Work team and group members, ensuring the women’s voices remain central to decision making.
The Owenbeg Women’s Group has created a welcoming and supportive community where women can build confidence, develop new skills, reduce social isolation, and improve their overall wellbeing. The group’s success demonstrates the value of co-production and meaningful involvement in designing services that reflect the needs and priorities of local people.
Result:
As a result of the group’s development, members are now progressing towards becoming a constituted community group. A committee has been established, with members taking an active role in shaping the future direction of the group and increasing its independence and sustainability.
To support this transition, members have agreed to contribute a small weekly fee, which is managed collectively and used to purchase materials and provide refreshments. Members have also taken ownership of practical tasks such as setting up and tidying the venue, further strengthening their sense of responsibility and belonging.
The process of moving towards constitution has been a significant achievement. Initially, many members were hesitant about taking on leadership roles and responsibilities. Through ongoing support, encouragement, and opportunities to participate in decision making, confidence has grown and leaders have emerged naturally from within the group. Committee members were identified and elected through a democratic voting process, ensuring that the group’s development remained member led.
A key learning point from this journey has been the importance of empowering members to lead activities and make decisions themselves. While support from professionals was valuable, encouraging more peer led workshops and initiatives has helped build confidence, ownership, increase understanding, and demonstrate what could be achieved.
Regular evaluation has been central to the group’s development. Qualitative feedback from members has provided valuable insight into what is working well and where improvements could be made. Attendance figures have also helped identify the activities and approaches that are most meaningful and engaging for members.
Overall, the group has evolved from a professionally supported initiative into a confident, member led community group, with women taking ownership of it’s future and demonstrating the positive impact of co-production and meaningful involvement.
