The Connect Hub

Today is a day dedicated to celebrating the amazing women in our community. From the women we are privileged to know and work alongside, our staff, volunteers and leaders, International Women’s Day is time to champion the inspiring women in our lives, coming together to empower other women.

In Glasgow alone, we support 39 women through our supported and emergency accommodations services. Every day, a dynamic and compassionate team of skilled practitioners support women to look after their health and wellbeing, achieve their goals, and feel empowered, confident and safe to look to a future defined by their ambitions. We have the privilege of working alongside women and building trusted relationships, to allow them to see the worth and value that they bring to the world. 

Over the last year, Simon Community Scotland have been on an immense journey developing and designing a brand new support centre for women experiencing or at risk of homelessness – The Connect Hub.

“It is fitting, that this years theme for International Women’s Day is focused on inspiring inclusion. Rooted in our longstanding ambitions to open up a dedicated community and support centre for women, The Connect Hub is re-imagining what a support space can look like – placing women’s experience, voice and agency at the centre, driving forward impact, creativity, innovation and hope.”

Hannah Boyle, Service Lead – The Connect Hub

Central to this journey has been upholding the voices of women with living experience and developing our model of care, support and connection through collaboration with women at the forefront. We have worked with an inspiring group of women to shape The Connect Hub’s evolution; from design through to support services. We know how difficult it can be for women to get the right support, at the right time. This group have informed us what good support can and should be and how they want the Connect Hub to look and feel. They are best placed to envision what best practice looks like for other women accessing support. 

We are delighted to share that this summer, The Connect Hub will open for the very first time. We will connect women with their communities and services important to their lives, focusing on housing, mental health, welfare rights, harm reduction, and sexual health through partner agencies. We will deliver a model of holistic support and care in a trauma-informed and psychologically safe way, building in opportunities for women to access group work, education and employability pathways. 

Moving towards opening The Connect Hub has been a journey of learning and development with women’s voices held at the heart. Together we have learned, listened, acted and moved towards creating a space of safety, connection, empowerment and community.