DUNDEE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CENTRE

What DUNDEE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CENTRE does

Dundee International Women's Centre (DIWC) is a Scotland-registered charity (SC014949) and Company Limited by Guarantee (268081), founded in 1969 originally as the Dundee International Women's Group to support immigrant families in the Hilltown area of Dundee with English language teaching. Over 55+ years, it has evolved into a multicultural, women-only community organisation serving women from over 60 countries speaking 45 languages, delivering educational classes (ESOL, employability, IT, creative arts), accredited qualifications (SQA-approved NPAs, Core Skills, ECDL), one-to-one support services (employment, wellbeing, abuse counselling, parenting), and social programmes including projects such as Connecting Cultures, RES, Women Together, Stobswell West, Breathe + Bloom, Wellbeing Circle, and VOICE. The organisation also operates Rise & Shine Childcare, a social enterprise providing free in-house creche for women attending classes and a paid Mobile Creche service for external events across Tayside and wider Scotland.

DIWC's operating model is grant-funded: core revenue derives from charitable funders including Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside, the Robertson Trust, the Scottish Government, UK Prosperity Fund, and the National Lottery Community Fund, supplemented by earned income from a £10/year membership, lunch club meals, cooking demonstrations, and the Mobile Creche. The centre is temporarily closed at its Manhattan Business Park site due to roof safety concerns, with services continuing from a network of partner venues across Dundee. The organisation has no proprietary technology platform and relies on standard website, email, and social media tools for operations. Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Trustees, with Caroline McKenna having served as CEO and Marthe Blyth as current Chair.

Name

DUNDEE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CENTRE

Legal name

Dundee International Women's Centre

Website

https://diwc.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Dundee International Women's Centre is a Scotland-registered charity founded in 1969 that delivers educational classes, accredited qualifications, one-to-one support, and childcare (Rise & Shine) for women from over 60 countries in Dundee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Community Support Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Inclusive Group Care & Peer Inclusion Facilitation (HSAAAIAN)

Keywords

• Women's community support
• ESOL language classes
• Employability training
• Social enterprise childcare
• Multicultural women's centre

Headquarters

HQ city

Dundee

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership at £10 per year, renewable each September. Provides access to classes, groups, events, and centre facilities including on-site childcare.
2. Crèche and childcare services: Free childcare sessions for women attending classes; play sessions available free of charge. Mobile creche services provided to external organizations for events, celebrations, and weddings.
3. Lunch Club: Meals priced at £3.50 for adults, £1 for children's portions. Provides social dining experience and English conversation practice.
4. Funding and grants: Primary revenue from charitable funding, grants, and donations. Funded by organizations including Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside, Robertson Trust, Scottish Government, UK Prosperity Fund, Lottery Funded, and various trusts and foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

DIWC is a women-only community centre in Dundee that delivers educational classes (ESOL, employability, IT, creative arts), one-to-one support (employment, wellbeing, abuse, parenting), and accredited qualifications (NPA Playwork & Childcare, ECDL) to women from BME and migrant communities. Its social-enterprise Rise & Shine Childcare provides free on-site childcare and a fee-paying mobile creche service for external events. Membership is £10 per year and most services are free, funded primarily through charitable grants and donations.

Product overview

DIWC operates as a single unified service offering centered on community support for women rather than a modular product platform. The core offering combines educational classes and groups (ESOL, employability, creative arts), specialized support services (one-to-one counseling, parenting, wellbeing), and childcare through its Rise & Shine social enterprise. These services are delivered both at the physical centre in Manhattan Business Park and through various project programs (Connecting Cultures, RES, Women Together, Stobswell West, VOICE) that address specific community needs. The organization functions as a grassroots, needs-led nonprofit with no commercial technology products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rise & Shine Childcare: In-house childcare and mobile creche service operated as a social enterprise by DIWC, offering free childcare sessions for women attending classes and services.

Products and services

• Rise & Shine Childcare
• Mobile Creche Service
• Classes and Groups
• Employability Programs (GREAT, Job Club, Success to Work)
• National Progression Award (NPA) in Playwork & Childcare
• Support Services
• Projects (Connecting Cultures, RES, Women Together, Stobswell West, Breathe + Bloom, Wellbeing Circle, VOICE)
• Lunch Club
• International Cooking Demonstrations

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of learners feel happier after support
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dundee City Council (DCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary local government partner providing core funding and support for community services. DCC refers women to DIWC services and collaborates on community initiatives.
• NHS TaysidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth partner providing NHS Health Checks at DIWC. Regular nurse visits conduct health assessments including blood pressure, blood tests, and wellbeing checks.
• Dundee and Angus CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege provides ESOL tutors and college-level courses delivered at DIWC premises, enabling women to progress to further education.
• Dundee Citizens Advice BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for the VOICE project providing free and confidential advice on housing, money and debt, and immigration rights. Eilidh from CAB provides advice sessions at DIWC.
• Dundee PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal strategic partnership for community planning and regeneration. DIWC participates in Dundee Partnership initiatives.
• DVVA (Dundee Violence Against Women Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership addressing violence against women issues. DIWC contributes to this multi-agency partnership.
• Women's Equality Steering GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteering group working on women's equality issues in Dundee. DIWC participates as representative for BME women.
• Maryfield Community Planning PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community planning partnership. DIWC participates in community planning activities.
• Social Enterprise ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational membership body for social enterprises. DIWC is a member, providing networking and advocacy.
• European Network of Migrant WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network connecting organizations supporting migrant women. DIWC is a member, enabling international connections and learning.
• SCVOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. DIWC is a member, providing access to resources, training, and policy support.
• Cycling ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cycling programs. DIWC offers cycling classes for women to build confidence and independence.
• SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSQA Approved Centre providing accredited qualifications including NPA, Core Skills, and ECDL. Recognized for promoting inclusion.
• Dundee Women's HUBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency accommodation partner providing space during DIWC's temporary closure due to building safety concerns.
• WRASAC Dundee & AnguscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSexual abuse support organization providing space during DIWC's temporary closure.
• Fleming Gardens Sheltered Housing ComplexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheltered housing complex providing space for classes during DIWC's temporary closure.
• BoomerangminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization providing space for DIWC services during temporary closure.
• One Parent Families ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supporting single parent families providing space for DIWC during temporary closure.
• IYN MaryfieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInverness Yard Network providing space during DIWC's temporary closure.
• Stobswell ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity forum providing space for DIWC services during temporary closure.
• HELMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization providing space for DIWC services during temporary closure.
• Penumbra Dundee Carer CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organization working in partnership with DIWC to support women who are carers, providing respite and support services.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Southall Black Sisters: UK-based organization supporting BME women with advocacy, advice, and educational services. Directly comparable in its women-only, multicultural, non-faith mission and casework/support service model for marginalised women.
• The Welcoming: Edinburgh-based charity supporting migrants and refugees to integrate into Scottish life through language, employability, and community programs. Closely mirrors DIWC's migrant women support, ESOL and integration offering in a Scottish city context.
• Glasgow Women's Library: Scotland's only Accredited Museum dedicated to women's history, providing cultural, educational, and community programs for women. Comparable as a women-focused Scottish charity offering educational classes, cultural engagement, and community support.
• Hemat Gryffe Women's Aid: Scottish Asian women's aid organization providing refuge, outreach, and culturally-sensitive support services. Comparable in providing women-only, culturally-sensitive support to minority ethnic women in Scotland.
• Bridges Programme: Glasgow-based charity supporting people seeking asylum and refugees with education, employability, and social integration services. Comparable in serving migrant women and families with ESOL, employability, and wellbeing programming.
• Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST): Manchester-based organization led by and supporting women seeking asylum with advocacy, social, and practical support. Comparable as a women-only, asylum-seeker-led nonprofit providing integration and empowerment services.

Broad incumbents

• Scottish Refugee Council: National umbrella charity advocating for and supporting refugees and asylum seekers across Scotland. Comparable in mission and service user base, but operates at national scale with broader (non-women-only) remit.
• Migrant Help: UK-wide charity providing advice, support, and integration services for migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Comparable in supporting migrant integration but operates nationally with government contract-driven model rather than community-led.

Regional players

• Maryhill Integration Network: Glasgow-based community organization supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants with ESOL, employability, and wellbeing services. Comparable in service portfolio (ESOL, classes, support) but based in a different Scottish city.
• Roshni Sheffield: Sheffield-based charity supporting BME women and children with culturally-appropriate services, ESOL, and wellbeing support. Comparable in serving BME women with inclusive, multilingual, community-led programs but in a different UK region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DIWC1969
• Facebookfacebook.com/1969diwc
• Instagraminstagram.com/diwc_1969

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DUNDEE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CENTRE