Women’s Cultural Arena, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Women’s Cultural Arena (WCA) in High Wycombe strives to bring together women (even though all welcome) from diverse cultures and different ethnic backgrounds.
They bring people together for mutual recognition, support and celebration through events, artistic creativity, and education.
The organisation promotes and maintains individual cultures centered around food, festivals, exhibitions, radio programmes, dress patterns, and the community allotment.
The challenge
Set up in December 2017 as a Community Interest Company, WCA’s founder Shanthi Wortmann needed to recruit a cohort of volunteers and to build up resources to run the planned activities.
The solution
Shanthi took up the many training opportunities and advice offered by Community Impact Bucks (CIB) including one-to-one advice sessions on funding and governance, and volunteer recruitment and management. She was also partnered with an experienced business coach who helped to build her confidence and enabled her to take the next steps.
Shanthi was also keen to identify training on budgets and cash flow. On CIB’s advice, she applied for the Adviza skills voucher to support the cost of the training and for guidance on suitable training providers.
Having secured the Adviza skills voucher and reviewed her training needs, Shanthi attended a ‘Bespoke Documentary Filming’ course to support WCA’s activities and the promotion of the organisation.
With the free support from CIB and further training, Shanthi felt in the position to reach out to more stakeholders for funding, widen the organisation’s network and develop the trust between many community organisations.
CIB also helped WCA previously through New Futures Bucks scheme, receiving dedicated development planning support.
Quote from organisation
“We highly appreciated your unfailing attention of professional support which helped us move from the starting stage as a ‘Community Group’ to have ‘Community Interest Company’ legal status which we hold at present.
“Throughout our journey, CIB stands with us by offering informal, formal, moral and professional support indeed. We are fortunate to have CIB team to upskill us. On behalf of Women’s Cultural Arena, I would like to take this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to CIB team.” Shanthi Priyalatha, Founder, WCA
For more information, visit Women’s Cultural Arena , CIB’s coaching opportunities and CIB’s advice sessions.
