A survey carried out by the Donegal branch of Women’s Collective Ireland finds that over half of women in the county are experiencing anxiety.
The survey gathered responses from 572 women aged 18 and above, living throughout Donegal, sharing with WCI Donegal their life experiences and views on a number of issues.
Project Coordinator Danielle Bonner says women spoke openly about mental health, pressure at home and work, lack of affordable childcare, and gaps in community opportunities for women in the county.
She says a common theme among the respondents was the need for a welcoming, women-only space in their community to tackle feelings of lonliness………
Pic – The WCI-Donegal Team; Rhona Hannigan Development Worker, Sinead Doherty Project Worker and Danielle Bonner Project Coordinator
You can download the full report HERE
Release in full –
Women’s Collective Ireland-Donegal release important findings from their county
wide needs assessment survey
Recent findings from a new survey by Women’s Collective Ireland-Donegal (WCI Donegal)
provides important insight into the lives of women living in Donegal and highlights the
diverse needs of women in rural Ireland. The survey gathered responses from 572 women
aged 18 and above, living throughout Donegal, sharing with WCI Donegal their life
experiences and views on a number of issues.
“We are very grateful to all the women who took the time to share,” said Danielle Bonner,
Project Coordinator at WCI Donegal. “The survey report focuses on what women told us
about their lives, their needs and interests, what’s missing in their communities, how they
would like to take part in local activities, and their views on gender equality.”
Women who took part in the survey spoke openly about mental health, pressure at home
and work, lack of affordable childcare, and gaps in community opportunities for women in
the county. More than half (52%) said they experience anxiety. Many also reported
loneliness, low mood and feeling overwhelmed, especially those in their 30s and 40s, many
of whom are juggling work and caring responsibilities.
A common theme among the respondents was the need for a welcoming, women-only
space in their community where they could drop in for a chat, a class or a cuppa, somewhere
safe, informal and friendly to connect, learn or simply take a break. Others expressed a need
for better access to local workshops, creative programmes, and everyday practical support.
While most respondents didn’t know of a Women’s Group in their area, nearly three-quarters
said they’d like to join one. Many women also said that gender inequality continues to
impact their lives, from taking on more caring responsibilities at home while also working, to
facing discrimination at work and feeling unsafe in public spaces.
“We heard again and again that women want to be active and connected to their local
communities,” Danielle added. Women’s responses also suggest that there are gaps in
current community engagement and highlight there is a need to utilize and better connect
women to the opportunities that already exist in the community. “The interest is there, the
challenge now is to make it visible, accessible, and shaped by women themselves.”
The survey findings will help shape WCI Donegal’s work in 2025 and beyond, ensuring that
our work is grounded in the lived realities of women in Donegal. While the experiences and
information shared by women in the survey also provides local community organisations and
decision-making bodies in Donegal valuable insight and data to help inform their work
allowing us all to better support women to engage and participate in the community,
support their wellbeing and empowerment.
