Women Friendly Leeds Update:
This blog update is the first for a period of time, which unfortunately included the sad passing of Emily Turner the Women’s Lives Leeds Project Manager – Women Friendly Leeds. Many of you may be aware Emily had been battling triple negative breast cancer since 2022. A dedicated page has been set up in Emily’s name for donations in support of the Women’s Night Safe Space Bus – a project which would not have been possible without her, to honour her wish to “Save the Bus!” visit the page here: “SAVE THE BUS!” and more to come about the Women’s Night Safe Space in our update.
Following a period of time and reflection after the pause of the Women’s Centre Pop ups learning has now been shared with the Women & Girls Alliance and if funding can be secured for the Women’s Centre conversations to restart, the learning will be shared as appropriate as it progresses into the next stage of development.
The future of the Women Friendly Leeds movement is now known, but until this point to funding and we recognise that we have overlooked keeping all the committed Allies, Supporters and Ambassadors in the picture of which we are sorry. It is the passion and creativity from you that has made the movement so successful and what it is today, with the legacy going on.
We are pleased to say that funding has been secured for the Women Friendly Leeds to continue the movement, but on a much smaller scale to focus on Employment and Economic Empowerment and Safety, especially in the Night-time Economy by developing and embedding a Recruiters Checklist for Organisations, Charites and Businesses; all in response to the Community Conversations, its “Asks and Pledges” presented at the Call To Action International Women’s Day event this year.
We are still calling for our Allies, Ambassadors and Supporters to help us continue the movement to help develop and embed the Recruiters Checklist and support the Night-Time Economy Safety activity. We are asking for you to keep in touch and to keep violence against women and girls and their safety a priority and to champion Leeds being a Women Friendly City.
We will communicate to you regularly through the Women’s Hub Newsletter about the activities you can support or be involved in along with the two projects that are still continuing:
- The successful Women’s Night Safe Space flagship
- The Equalities Assembly Women and Girls Hub
Women’s Night Safe Space Update
We are pleased to say we received a grant for 61 nights of services, over 12 months (April 2025-April 2026) to continue running Saturdays 10.00pm – 3.00am by the Corn Exchange and in partnership with Leeds First Friday 9.00pm – 2.00pm on Lower Briggate. This grant has come from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund Round 7 and we continue to work hard exploring and building future sustainability for this frontline service.
As part of the Women’s Night Safe Space we are taking forward the Asks for the Women Friendly Leeds Spiking Report, which was spearheaded by our Student Ambassadors and have brought together a Task and Finish group to take forward the recommendations.
You are more than welcome to input into the Campaign and find out more about the Women’s Night Safe Space by contacting
Shreena Gobey email: [email protected]
Text or phone: 07442 157857
The Equalities Assembly Women and Girls Hub:
The Women and Girls Hub is Leeds City Council’s consultation and engagement forum run by the Women & Girls Alliance – Leeds for women and girls, groups, and organisations. The Hub has been established since 2018 and is a member of the Leeds Equalities Assembly. It facilitates Women and Girls voices to be heard, to help shape and influence opportunities for them and plays a critical friend role to ensure Leeds considers these voices in everything they do.
The Hub provides an opportunity to:
- Have your say to help address the needs of the women and girls
- Share ideas to shape services that matter to you
- Connect and network with others
- Influence change and promote inclusive services
The Hub also hosts socials and themed events that bring people together, to share and celebrate their experiences and learn from each other; and with key strategic leaders; to influence action and change that will make Leeds even better for Women and Girls.
The Hub recently hosted a Sisterhood of Stories event, an inspirational evening celebrating female poets, writers from Leeds reflecting on women’s safety, dedicated to Emily Turner. It was an amazing, heartfelt evening full of real life stories.
Feedback from guests who attended include:
“THE EXPERIENCE IS REALLY HEART WARMING, EYE OPENING, POSITVE AND EMPOWERING.”
“BEAUTIFUL EVENING WITH BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, ARTISTS, AND INSPIRATION FOR ME.”
“WONDERFUL ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE, HOPE, SISTERHOOD.”
Better for Women, Better for Everyone
The Hub has five priorities agreed by its own membership as follows:
- Safety
- Education
- Health and Wellbeing
- Employment and Economic Empowerment
- Voice, Influence and Participation
For 2025-2026 the following has been planned:
- An employability event with statutory partners where all women will have the opportunity to learn about opportunities, to influence strategic thinking and to access information about becoming more employment or education ready.
- A social evening in the Autumn. Theme to be confirmed.
- International Women’s Day Celebration in March 2026.
If you would like to find out more about all activities and opportunities for the Hubs membership a quarterly newsletter is distributed that includes:
- Information about the Hub’s planned activities and how you can access them
- Opportunities to influence change across the city
- Services and associated activities for women and girls
- City-wide initiatives relevant for Women and Girls
In addition, the newsletter promotes opportunities led by the Hub and also by the other Equality Hub’s across the city. To become a Hub member simply sign up to the newsletter on our website homepage https://womenfriendlyleeds.org/
By signing up to the newsletter you are agreeing to receive information for and be part of the Hub.
For more information, you can contact the Women’s and Girls Hub Co-ordinator, Paulette Morris.
Contact details:
Email: [email protected]
Text or phone: 07436 387536
