African Women Empowerment Forum (AWEF)

About our Organisation

The African Women Empowerment Forum (AWEF) Charity has two decades of experience delivering essential skills and training to
Nottingham’s diverse communities. We focus on ESOL, functional skills, digital literacy, and Wellness & Recovery programs, particularly for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Our central hub facilitates easy access for community members, with additional outreach in libraries and faith spaces.
We engage our community through forums and feedback, shaping courses like Grandma’s Kitchen. Funding from local authorities and partnerships has sustained our success, with over 95 learners in our recent ESOL pilot and an 88% completion rate, enhancing well-being and social integration

About our UKSPF project

The African Women Empowerment Forum (AWEF) will deliver a
UKSPF-funded Essential Skills programme from June 2025 to March 2026, supporting marginalised communities in Nottingham to move closer to employment, education, and social inclusion. The project aims to equip refugees, asylum seekers, BAME women, older adults, and other economically inactive individuals with essential life, language, and digital skills.

Training will be delivered at AWEF’s centrally located Economic
Development Centre (EDC) and nearby community venues. Courses
include ESOL (Conversational English), Digital Skills, Numeracy, Culinary Training (via Grandma’s Kitchen), Sewing and Textiles, Family Literacy, Leadership Development, and Wellbeing and Recovery Support. Sessions are designed to be trauma-informed, accessible, and culturally responsive, with additional backing such as warm spaces, free meals, and food parcels to remove barriers to participation.

The programme targets residents in key Nottingham City wards including Hyson Green, Arboretum, St. Ann’s, and the city centre. AWEF will engage over 200 participants using trusted referral networks (e.g. Jobcentre Plus,
Refugee Forum), multilingual outreach, and peer mentors with lived
experience.

The project will deliver over 270 training places, support more than 100 people into further learning or employment pathways, and safeguard jobs, fostering inclusion, resilience, and opportunity across Nottingham’s most underserved communities.

For more information, please contact

• Contact: Grace kamau
• Call:  07425 580561
• Visit: African Women Empowerment
• Email: : info@awef.org.uk