HISTORY

Our Journey So Far

Kairos Women+ started life in 2017 as a project within a larger charity. The Robertson Trust approached Active Communities with the idea of developing a gender-specific and community-led Women’s Space in Johnstone to achieve positive outcomes for women. Strathclyde University conducted research on the project in the initial stages, which you can read here.

Kairos Women+ has blossomed since then, developing new projects and reaching more and more new women and non-binary people. We pride ourselves on our community-led approach and are continuously searching for new ways to hand the power over to our communities to make change, learn and become active and engaged citizens.

In April 2021, Kairos Women+ became a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). 

TIMELINE

2017
Development Begins
Development Begins

The Robertson Trust fund Active Communities to develop a community-led women's space in Johnstone and consultation with the local community begins. 

May 2018
Beautiful Women
Beautiful Women Begins

Beautiful Women, our personal development programme, launches. This is the first time this course has been delivered in Scotland, having been created at Women's Community Matters, Barrow-in-Furness, England.

July 2018
Development Team
Development Team Forms

The Kairos Development Team form and meet for the first time. For more about the Community-Led Approach, please click here. The team are made up of local women from across Renfrewshire and work together to develop Kairos.

August 2018
Learning Visits
Learning From Others

The Development Team starts visiting other women-led organisations to learn about their approach, including Women's Community Matters in England and Belfast Women's Centres. 

September 2018
Paisley Museum Reimagined
Paisley Museum Reimagined

Our partnership with Paisley Museum Reimagined begins. We learn all about co-production, museum objects and women's history. Find out more about Kairos Museum here.  

December 2018
Pachedu Winter Party
Pachedu Winter Party

After a few months working with Pachedu's Women's Group, Kairos hosts a joint winter celebration in Paisley, sharing food from across the world. 

January 2019
Equalities Collective
Our Equalities Collective Forms

Our campaigning group The Equalities Collective forms. They work together to decide on their first campaign -  Women's Invisible Work. To find out more about our Equalities Collective, please click here.

March 2019
International Women's Day Event
International Women's Day 2019

The Development Team host an International Women's Day celebration at St Margaret's church hall, Johnstone. 140 people from the local community join us for food, talks and performances. 

April 2019
Creative Cafe
Creative Cafe Launches

We launch our Creative Cafe project at WEvolution, Paisley. Women share skills and ideas over a cuppa. Find out more here.

July 2019
Decorating
Getting the Space Ready

Our community get together to make our new space a second home for women in Renfrewshire: painting, putting up shelves and enjoying a chippy together afterwards!

August 2019
The New Space
Moving into the New Space

We move in! The hard work pays off and we start lots of new groups from our first home at 8 Quarry Street, Johnstone. 

September 2019
Thank You
A group of women and children stand together smiling, holding up signs that say "thank you, we raised £1005". There is a giant carrot teddy bear at the front.
The Community Buys Our Furniture

Our community donates £1005 so that we can buy furniture to make our space a home - thank you!

October 2019
Our New Staff
Our New Staff Begin

We welcome two new staff and our first student to the team. Pictured from left to right: Donna, Katy, Annie, Adeola, Liz. Find out more about our staff team here.

November 2019
Invisible Women Event
Invisible Women Event

Our Equalities Collective host an event at Johnstone Town Hall to launch their Women's Invisible Work report which you can find here. 160 people join us for talks, performances and a celebration of women's contribution to society. 

November 2019
British Museum
British Museum Annual Conference

Kairos and Paisley Museum Reimagined speak at the British Museum's Annual Conference. They share their co-produced comic book which tells the story of Kairos Woman Kelly who reimagines Paisley Museum. Find the comic and audiobook here.

December 2019
Christmas Fayre
Kairos Christmas Fayre

Kairos volunteers plan and host a Christmas fayre to raise funds for Kairos. 50 people attend throughout the day, raising over £500 for Kairos. To learn more about volunteering, please click here.

December 2019
Making Her Mark
Making Her Mark Lauches

Our joint arts and heritage project with Glasgow Women's Library and RAMH launches, funded by the Culture, Heritage and Events Fund, Renfrewshire Council. 60 women join us to start making their mark in Renfrewshire!

March 2020
Asian Experience Event
Asian Experience Event

Our volunteer Arti Gosai plans and hosts our Kairos Asian Experience, celebrating the lives of women in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. 40 women and non-binary people join us for Indian food, performances and talks. 

March 2020
Covid-19
Kairos Moves Online

In late March, as the world locks down, Kairos moves online. We host weekly cookery and craft video classes as well as live zoom sessions. To find out about our Covid-19 response, please click here.

April 2020
Kairos Kitchen
Kairos Kitchen Launches

Our World Foods project, Kairos Kitchen, launches online. Staff, volunteers and women in the community film video classes to share their favourite recipes. Watch the full series here.

July 2020
Kairos Chronicle
Kairos Chronicle Zine Launches

Our community zine, Kairos Chronicle, launches. A lockdown-inspired project that showcases the creative work of women and non-binary people in Renfrewshire and beyond. To find out more or submit to the Chronicle, please click here.

August 2020
Food Packs
Covid-19 Food Packs Project Begins

In response to Covid-19, we launch our food packs project, with our volunteer drivers delivering food to families across Renfrewshire. We join the Renfrewshire Food Provision Network and receive weekly deliveries from Fareshare. 

September 2020
Recovery Event
Recovery Space (on a blue background)
Recovery Space Launches

Our online Recovery Space launches with an online event for women to share their experiences of addiction. We launch a WhatsApp group for women in recovery. Find out more here.

October 2020
LGBT Event
Reflecting on LGBT Lives

Our first LGBTQ+ focussed event exploring the changing landscape in Scotland. We're joined by a panel of LGBTQ+ speakers to share their experiences. 

October 2020
Black History Month
Culture Melting Pot

In celebration of Black History Month, we partner with Pachedu to showcase a selection of incredible black talent from across Scotland in our virtual celebration.

December 2020
Christmas Project
Mrs Claus at Kairos

We send out 65 festive packs to go alongside our virtual advent calendar. We create 43 Christmas Hampers and 31 gifts for our food packs families thanks to donations from all of you!

January 2021
Steps to Independence
The Community Decides

Our Development Team, made up of local women and non-binary people, collectively decide to take steps towards Kairos becoming an independent charity. Our Trustee Board is set up and two members of the Development Team become founding members.

January 2021
Mental Health Group Launches
Mental Wellness Group Launches

Our monthly peer support group for women+ with experiences of poor mental health and mental illness launches. It's developed by a group of volunteers, many with lived experience. 

March 2021
International Women's Day Festival
Equalities Collective IWD Event

Our Equalities Collective host a 2-day virtual festival exploring gender inequality for International Women's Day. There's a total of 92 attendances over the 2 days with workshops delivered by 16 different women and non-binary people. Watch here.

March 2021
Podcast Launches
A Brew and a Blether

Our community-produced podcast (in collaboration with Erskine Media) launches. The first two episodes explore women's experiences of lockdown. Listen now!

April 2021
We Become a Charity
Charity registration

On April 22nd 2021 Kairos Women+ officially became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) registered with OSCR. Hurray! 

July 2021
Coming back
Groups come back

In July, we start to meet in-person for outdoor groups, slowly followed by indoor groups in Johnstone and Paisley - Mental Wellness Group, Wellbeing Creative Cafe, Beautiful Women & the Recovery Space all return.

August 2021
Official independence
Kairos becomes independent

On 1st August 2021 Kairos Women+ officially becomes an independent organisation following the transition from a project within Active Communities.

October 2021
#ChangeMakers
Challenge Poverty Week

For Challenge Poverty Week we hosted a panel discussion bringing together #ChangeMakers with lived experience of poverty to talk about what needs to change and how to do it! We were joined by Mhairi Black MP for a keynote speech. 

March 2022
Film Festival
International Women's Day

For International Women's Day 2022 we hosted a joint film festival for families with the Renfrewshire Screen Development Network thanks to funding from Regional Screen Scotland. 

April 2022
Our new home
We move in!

On 4th April 2022 we moved into our new space at the Embroidery Mill in Paisley. We have even more space to run groups and meet even more women+ in Renfrewshire!

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