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About Whisc

MISSION STATEMENT

Our purpose is to offer information, training and support on women's health issues. We will provide help and information services to support women through our volunteers and staff, through partnerships and through referral to other organisations where appropriate. WHISC is rooted in local service delivery and we will deliver outreach services wherever possible. We will ensure consistent standards and value diversity and will be recognised as leaders in our field by being independent, inclusive, collaborative, responsive, effective, accountable and well led. The interests of women are paramount and at the heart of our services. Our strength lies in our volunteers combined with effective governance, leadership and management.

THE STRUCTURE OF WHISC

WHISC is run by a Management Committee which oversees all the legalities of running a limited company and registered charity. The Management Committee is made up of women who are actively involved with WHISC, students from past and current women's health courses and women who are interested in WHISC'S objectives.

WHISC currently has five employees; Centre Manager, Community Worker Outreach, Finance & Administration Officer, Information Officer, and a Tutor.

Then, most importantly, there are all the volunteers.

WHISC'S HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

WHISC was established in 1984 by a group of women from a variety of backgrounds in the Vauxhall area of Liverpool. The women were fed up with not getting enough information from their GP's, so, they attended a Women's Health Course in order to find out more about their own health and bodies, especially in areas such as PMT and the menopause.

The course eventually moved from Vauxhall to Shorefield Annex, Aigburth Road, and with money from the County Council a mobile women's health bus purchased. Some of the women embarked on basic counselling training, which lasted for 10 weeks. The meetings were held every Sunday, as that was the only available day for all of the women to attend. The women hoped to pass on their skills and knowledge in order that women could increase the control they have over their own health and provide a better service for women.

The women then wanted a city centre base to work from and the Family Planning Clinic in Bold Street offered to provide WHISC with a room for one day a week (Thursday) and from there, the 'drop-in' began. The women would have to take all of their information in, unpack it for the drop-in session and re-pack it up again for 1.30pm. At that time there was a paid part-time WHISC organiser and administration worker. The Family Planning Association then closed down the Liverpool office, leaving WHISC without premises.

In 1991, WHISC relocated to 95a Mount Pleasant, where money from fund-raising allowed them to refurbish a "betting shop" into a drop-in. In 1994, due to an increasing number of clients and volunteers, the premises became too small and finally, after a frantic fundraising exercise, WHISC settled at 120 Bold Street, our present home.