Own My Life: A Groundbreaking First Year in Northern Ireland

Click here to go straight to our Northern Ireland Pilot Evaluation Report.

One year ago, we set out on a mission to bring Own My Life to Northern Ireland, determined to invite Northern Irish women into our sisterhood of joy, hope and empowerment (read about our 2024 trip to Belfast HERE). Today, we are proud to release a report detailing the success of our first-ever Own My Life course in Northern Ireland, delivered by North Down and Ards Women’s Aid.

This groundbreaking pilot course, enabling women who have been subjected to abuse to gain ownership of their lives, has been a resounding success. It has provided a safe space for women to build self-efficacy, gain vital knowledge, and build a strong community of support. The feedback from participants has been inspiring, with women sharing how the course has helped them understand what was done to them, rebuild confidence, and take meaningful steps toward their futures.

Janine Barnes, North Down and Ards Women’s Aid facilitator

Thanks to the dedication of the team at North Down and Ards Women’s Aid—particularly their CEO, Emmalyn and their committed facilitator Janine, and, most importantly, the courageous women who took part—this pilot has paved the way for Own My Life to grow across Northern Ireland. Their passion and determination have ensured that more women will have the opportunity to access our life-changing and life-saving course.

As we celebrate this milestone, we are excited to see what comes next. With more courses planned, we look forward to seeing more organisations training staff to facilitate Own My Life, so that even more women can walk into their power and own their lives.

To everyone who has been part of this journey—thank you. Together, we are making a difference.

You can CLICK HERE to read the our Northern Ireland Pilot Evaluation Report.

Stay connected with us (by clicking HERE) for updates on future courses and the impact of Own My Life in Northern Ireland and beyond.

If you are in Northern Ireland and would like to talk to us about enabling more women in Northern Ireland to own their lives, our Relationship Development Lead Victoria Mason would love to hear from you: victoria.mason@ownmylifecourse.org.