Our Stories
"Cycling has changed my life"
In the summer of 2020, I joined the Women’s Wellbeing cycling club after hearing about it from some parents at my children’s school. I overheard them talking about a women’s cycling group, and my interest was immediately piqued. I had always dreamed of cycling through beautiful
countryside on a warm summer day, but cultural barriers prevented me from pursuing this dream.
However, joining the Women Wellbeing Cycling Club turned out to be a turning point in my life. I found a community of women from similar cultural backgrounds who had faced similar restrictions and barriers to cycling. They provided cycling equipment, removing one of the obstacles that had prevented me from pursuing my passion. The staff were welcoming and friendly, and I felt right at home. I signed up for regular rides led by experienced ride leaders who helped me improve my cycling skills and achieve my goals. The Women’s Wellbeing Cycling Club took great care to nurture each individual rider, regardless of their starting point.
Through these rides, I discovered new green spaces within the Midlands and became more confident in my cycling ability. My time with them has had a transformative effect on my life.
I have become much fitter and healthier, shedding weight that I had struggled to lose through other means. My mental health has also improved, and I find myself feeling more positive and optimistic than ever before. This experience has taught me the importance of never giving up on my dreams and pursuing the things that bring me joy. I am grateful to Women’s Wellbeing for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a supportive community of cyclists. Thanks to them, I have discovered a love for the outdoors and for cycling that I had never known before.
"The course has empowered me"
When I first heard about the research project, I was thrilled and enrolled myself on it. During the project, we explored real-life issues related to infant mortality and menopause and how they were affecting women from the Pakistani community living in areas of high deprivation. As a
Pakistani woman myself, living amongst those communities made me realise the devastation caused by poor health inequalities, which could have been avoided if barriers to healthcare didn’t exist.
I learned so much during these past few months and met some lovely friends. I felt empowered that I was contributing to research that could shape how future services are run to improve outcomes for women. Before enrolling, I had a serious illness that affected my mental well-being, I was so depressed that I had no will to do anything. However, since enrolling in this course, I have become much happier and found myself again. I have gained so much confidence and knowledge by studying, and the training that was provided helped me to approach clients and become more sociable.
Studying this research project is a massive achievement for me, and I’m chuffed with myself, especially when I look at my certificates, which were obtained through the University of Birmingham. This experience will undoubtedly benefit me in the future.
