SESWN

Aim: Through connection & shared experience, we are building a support system that aims to ensure no service woman living in NI struggles alone.

Inspired by our own journeys’, at the end of 2022 a small group of ex-serving women came together to create the Serving and Ex Serving Women’s Network (SESWN for short) in Northern Ireland. Our vision was to create a network that connects women currently serving in or who have served in, the armed forces & who are living in, or connected to, Northern Ireland. Through these connections we wanted to build a support system that would work to ensure that no service, or ex service, woman struggles alone within her personal or professional community. We wanted to celebrate the diverse experience, skills & talents of our service women too. And to work with our members to deliver programmes of personal development to help each and every one of us to live our best life.

Background

In early 2023 we initiated a series of consultation events, to find out what service women wanted from a network. This work culminated in a launch event in May 2023 attended by 70 women. At the launch event, we published a programme of activity for 2023 that included: a pilot one-to-one personal development coaching project, monthly zoom networking events, and in person networking events including an afternoon tea and Christmas craft workshop. In 2024, with support from sponsors including the Veterans' Foundation, we delivered more in person networking events including talks and activities designed to bring us together as a groups, a summer camp for families and a Christmas dinner.

Sustainability September 2025 - August 2026

With a membership now of over 200, we are focused on sustainability in the longer term and aim to deliver projects that continue to strengthen our peer support network, to champion women's physical and mental health and wellbeing within a service and ex-service context, and to advocate for our members. Our overall aim endures: to ensure no service woman living in NI struggles alone.

As we look towards out next year of activity, starting in September 2025, we aim to deliver:

- A series of Well Women Workshops;

- A Summer Camp for our members and their families;

- A programme of personal development; 

- Support to 'hubs' based across NI that can reach out to local serving and ex serving women to offer friendship and support;

- To support external research into the needs of service women, during and after service in the armed forces; and

- Advocacy, including through the UK Government Office of Veteran Affairs and as a member of the international Women Veterans Alliance.

To enable us work towards this challenging programme we need your support - in return you can rest assured knowing that we are here to support every woman in NI who has served, or is currently serving in the armed forces. 

All of the money raised will go towards the delivery of these projects for the SESWN. It will enable us to develop and maintain an accessible online presence, pay for venue hire and facilitation for wellbeing workshops, to access certified professionals to support our programme fo personal development and to be able to take part in consultation events and research. 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 4th September 2025 at 5:38pm