A film commission by REPLAN, the Department of Education and Science and produced by Swing Bridge Video about the Tyneside Women’s Employment project which provided educational opportunities for women on Tyneside in areas of business, employability as well as sport and fitness. The film speaks with many of the women who are participating in various projects which they not only participate in but also run. They talk about what they have gained in being part of this project, not just stuck at...

A film commission by REPLAN, the Department of Education and Science and produced by Swing Bridge Video about the Tyneside Women’s Employment project which provided educational opportunities for women on Tyneside in areas of business, employability as well as sport and fitness. The film speaks with many of the women who are participating in various projects which they not only participate in but also run. They talk about what they have gained in being part of this project, not just stuck at home looking after children. The film includes women from the local Pakistani community participating in West End Leisure and Learning. Title: Learning Ourselves At a fashion show models wearing a selection of women’s knitwear parade up and down a catwalk, a small girl also features modelling a dress. Nearby the two women who produced these garments as part of the Tyneside Women’s Employment Project comment that women today are being encouraged to be more assertive and have more self-confidence as businesspeople. They talk a little about the garments themselves and who their market is. The film changes to The John Marley Centre on Muscott Grove in Newcastle before returning to the two women designers who explain how they became involved with the centre. Inside one of the rooms at The John Marley Centre women sitting around tables working on various crafts. Another woman explains that the centre is a place for the community where people should have a say. As she talks a management committee meeting taking place in another room with each of the women present taking down notes and making contributions to the discussions. In voice-over several women talk about their involvement in these committees and what they do. At North Kenton a three-story block of flats or maisonettes, a banner attached to the wall near the entrance reads ‘The Block’. Three women and their small children come along a path chatting before heading inside. Title: North Kenton Health Project Again, in voice-over women talk about her first impressions of the project as the women seen entering the building now make their way towards a creche where the children are dropped off. One of the mothers’ kisses and waves at her baby before leaving. The woman in charge of the creche explains what the children gain from being in the nursery. In another room a group of women hold a discussion about what the think of ‘The Block’ and what it is they gain from coming. Most of the women come because they felt trapped at home, they talk about how they have changed since they started using the centre. Title: John Marley Project A group of women taking part in a keep-fit class, in voice-over a woman explains they are concerned for the life of the community and about peoples on going desire to learn. She goes onto say that they are all learning from each other, and each person is valued for their experience. In a classroom women doing stitching and embroidery, in voice-over a women explains the types of activities that are available to the women at the centre. Other women’s voices talk about what they think of both the tutors and creche. They are learning all the time because they want to learn. Sitting on a sofa one of the women in the voice-over discussion group explains that there aren’t many jobs so she doesn’t think what she does at the centre will help find her employment. However, it is filling her life and continuing the education she learned at school. Title: Not Traditional Skills Centre In a classroom a woman training for a job as a computer programmer. She types data into a computer and prints of her work. In a workshop a woman uses a hand plane to shape a piece of wood, around her other women doing carpentry. In voice-over women explains that women can do such jobs, it’s not just for men. Title: Mortimer Women’s Health Group In a gym women using exercise equipment and lifting weight, in voice-over women talk about their involvement with the gym which is the only women’s health club on South Tyneside and what they gain from attending. A woman in glasses says that if they provide what women want then they will stick at it. She explains that for those who’ve not been in education for a long time then they are under confident, the challenge is getting them over the threshold. Title: West End Leisure and Learning In a classroom a group of Pakistani women are using sowing machines and making their own clothes. In voice-over a one of them explains they are proud of their culture and are making their own Asian clothes as they aren’t available to buy in shops. The woman in glasses seen previously says there are a lot of reason why women come to the centre, its informal attitude, it’s a big comfortable building and not having the kind of discipline that is seen in colleges which to many women would be intimidating. As she continues to talk about the issues of colleges the exterior of the Gateshead Technical College. Two women walk towards and head inside the Gateshead Technical College, in voice-over a woman talks about her first impressions of college and not knowing what the course was about. Inside the women talk to a caretaker who gives them directions to the classroom they are looking for. A phantom camera walking through a hall in the college, along a corridor and into a smaller room where a group of women are holding a discussion. In voice-over some of the women give their impressions of being at the college. Title: Women's Opportunities Course As their discussion group continues, in voice-over some of the women talk about what activities and courses they have been on. Some of the women in the group provide details of what they do and what they hope to achieve from being part of this course, many of whom are working towards a job. Credit: Camera Sara McCarthy Assistant Peter Woodhouse Sound Dave Eadington, Eric Woodward Editor Hugh Kelly Research Janina Struk Title: Thanks to Northern Newsreel A black and white still image of a group of women watching a television screen. Thanks to : Tyneside Womens Employment Project, Design & Marketing Course, Tyneside Womens Skill Centre, Gateshead Technical College, West End Leisure and Learning, North Kenton Health Project, Trinity House Social Centre, Riverside Health Project, John Marley Centre, Mortimer Health Group Another black and white photograph of women in a discussion group. Title: Thanks to all the women who have advised us in this programme Another black and white image of women in a discussion group one of the women featured in the film says that she’s not stuck at home anymore and is enjoying her life. Title: Commissioned by: REPLAN, Department of Education and Science End title: Produced by Swingbridge Video © 1986