EmpowHER
EmpowHER is a women‑only therapeutic programme that offers space to heal, reflect, learn new skills, and build confidence in a supportive community.
Our aim is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where women can rebuild wellbeing, resilience, and self-belief. EmpowHER is designed for women who have experienced mental health challenges, trauma, domestic abuse, or low self-esteem, and who would benefit from the calm and grounding influence of nature.
Every Thursday, EmpowHER members can enjoy our therapeutic garden at Growing Together Westcliff – a peaceful space to reconnect with themselves and find moments of quiet away from daily pressures.
“Thank you for being here! EmpowHER is one of the best places with the best people that I have ever been to. After a lifetime in the system, this place and the people are life changing. I can be myself; I feel empowered to learn new things.” Marianne.
Connecting Through Nature and Creativity 🌳
EmpowHER brings women together through activities that support emotional wellbeing, self-expression, and personal growth. Sessions include:
- Therapeutic horticulture
- Mindfulness in the garden
- Creative workshops such as wreath making, jam making, and eco-crafts
Women often tell us that the garden is a vital part of their recovery – a place where they feel safe, valued, and connected to others and to the natural world.
Growing Confidence, Skills, and Community 🤝
The programme runs in 12‑week rolling cohorts, with plenty of opportunities for women to stay involved afterwards. EmpowHER is co-designed with participants and delivered in partnership with local organisations including Safe Steps and Rape Crisis SOS, helping ensure it reaches the women who need it most.
“Thank you so much for the group. I feel so confident when I leave, empowered to go on and do things for myself. The girls are lovely, very balanced and focused on the group’s wellbeing. I love the activities, the group dynamic, the creativity.” Gina.
Building a Healthier, More Empowered Community 💚
EmpowHER supports individual recovery while strengthening our wider community. By helping women reconnect with nature and with one another in a supportive setting, the project promotes wellbeing, environmental awareness, and long-term resilience.
Together, we’re creating a healthier, more empowered Southend – one session at a time.
Join Us
To join EmpowHER, please complete the Growing Together referral form, and a member of our team will be in touch.