A Letter from the Women's Health Management Committee

30 June 2006

Dear Friend
Important Notice – Closure of Women’s Health

I am writing to update you on the situation at Women’s Health. At an Extraordinary General Meeting on 25th May, it was resolved that the Company of Women’s Health should be closed down, struck off the register at Companies House, and removed from the register of Charities. It was also resolved the Management Committee [MC]be authorised to take the necessary steps to complete the process and wind up in an orderly manner. Women’s Health vacated its premises on 30th June 2006.

The publications together with the website, helpline telephone number, and Learning Disability materials will be transferred to two organisations. The MC and the Interim Director have taken pains to ensure the legacy of Women’s Health lives on. To this end we have decided on two long-standing and reputable charitable organisations.

Women’s Health Concern [WHC] was initiated in 1972 by Joan Jenkins, a nurse who saw a gap in gynaecological information for women. The charity has large grassroots support as well as backing from medical professionals and organisations. WHC will take on the mainstream publications together with the helpline number and website. The actual date for them to take this over is yet to be confirmed, and further news will be posted on the Women’s Health website in due course.

The Elfrida Society needs no introduction. Women’s Health has worked in partnership with this fine organisation for several years, producing excellent information with and for women with learning difficulties. The Elfrida Society will take on the Learning Disability publications including the Private Parts Pack. Both organisations will take on responsibility for distribution, and updating of the publications.

The reference library has been distributed across a few organisations including Daisy Network, Royal College of Midwives and the Feminist library. Office equipment has been distributed to various charitable organisations.

I would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all our supporters and users – without you Women’s Health means nothing. It has been an extremely sad time and the MC have spent long hours discussing how to wind up this worthwhile organisation with dignity. We hope we have achieved this aim, and would ask you as friends to lend your support to Women’s Health Concern and the Elfrida Society in any way you can.

Yours sincerely,

Sharon Cahill, Chair
Women's Health Management Committee

Women’s Health Concern
Whitehall House
41 Whitehall
London SW1A 2BY
Main Office tel: 020 7451 1377
Nurse counselling service tel: 0845 123 2319

The Elfrida Society 34 Islington Park Street
London N1 1PX
Contact: Jo Holloway
Main Office tel: 020 7359 7443

Women's Health; Registered Charity Number 296002; Company Number 1835283