This episode, we talk to Lydia Siapardani from the Irida Center about the work they do to support women in the area. The centre aims to provide support to women in all areas, offering protection services, legal aid, education, recreational activities, social connections and emergency response. The discussion centres around safe spaces for women, the limitations of resources, and the issues these women face.

This episode was originally recorded in December 2021. After two years of lockdown this was the first winter Irida Women's Centre remained open, continuing to offer essential support to refugee, asylum-seeking, migrant and local women.

In 2022, Irida successfully re-established Child Safe Space, for children of pre'school age. It also launched the Irida Solidarity Free Shop, to provide women and their families who are not eligible to receive cash assistance with decent access to food items and non-food necessities.

To find out more about Irida and its latest developments, you can follow them on instagram @iridacentre

https://www.iridacenter.org

Edited by Jess Clifford

Music by Efeloji