Charity that helps vulnerable girls get away from it all

TUCKED AWAY at the end of a row of terraced houses in Harehills is the home of Getaway Girls.

Behind the nondescript 
facade, a team of 10 dedicated staff are working away, striving 
to provide help, support and a 
safe social environment for hundreds of vulnerable young women. It’s no mean feat either, they support about 400 people a year.

Some of them may be from broken or abusive homes, some may be struggling at school, others are young mums or they might be dealing with mental health issues. Others have joined simply to make friends and change their lives for the better.

The charity was set up in 1987, aiming to help build friendships and provide an outlet for girls to talk whilst giving them a fun environment.

It also offers group work, peer education, volunteering opportunities and training to girls aged 11 to 25 to help raise their aspirations and allow them to reach their full potential.

No matter what their reason for being involved in Getaway Girls, they all see it as a second home.

The building on Bayswater Grove has a crèche, computer area and two large living rooms.

Sara, 23, said: “We cook together, talk, do photography, self defence and Zumba classes and attend a mother’s group and I’ve made lots of friends.

“It has opened my eyes and given me confidence.”

Mum-of-one Sara helps the Refugee Council by detailing to others how she has turned her 
life around. She is a peer 
educator at Getaway Girls, helping to give support and be a role model for younger members of the team.

She is taking a course at the Co-operative Academy near Burmantofts and is also doing a qualification with Getaway Girls to help her achieve her dream of becoming a youth and community worker.

Sara is one of hundreds of ambitious young women at the charity.

She said: “Now I’m just looking forward to the future for me and my son.”

Flavia Docherty, Getaway 
Girls’ director, is seen by many of the centre’s users as a mother figure.

Flavia, a former youth worker in Harehills, helped get the charity off the ground with colleagues Sue Dare and Jenny Appleyard.

She said: “When it first started, the idea was to build up 
young girls’ confidence, and basing it around outdoor 
pursuits. That’s still the case now. It is about supporting 
 them, challenging them and having fun.”

Ripa Begum, 17, is a Leeds City College student studying health and social care and dreams of being a children’s nurse.

She sees Getaway Girls as an escape from everyday life.

“Staying at home was like I was a prisoner,” she said. “I felt like I had to go somewhere and make some new friends.

“I’ve had the chance to do so much, such as trips away, rock climbing and sports and there’s always lots of new stuff to do here. It’s about opening opportunities for yourself. I would recommend it to everyone.”

The three key topics that the girls focus on are health and wellbeing; cultural identity and diversity; and voice and influence.

Health and wellbeing offers support for young mums, emotional health and support for young women who are refugees and asylum seekers.

While cultural identity and diversity offers fun activities for the girls to explore their cultural heritage and take part in exchange trips and residentials.

Earlier this year, the girls took part in an arts and photography project focusing on the roles of sportswomen from the past to the present day.

Their work went on display at the St John’s Shopping Centre in Leeds and Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams was the guest of honour at the launch.

Speaking at the event, Nicola said: “I’ve met hundreds of young women and girls, talking to them about sport, my career and ways to get active, and now finally I’m meeting a project in my hometown.

“The Getaway Girls have worked hard on their project.”

Leeds actress Angela Griffin is the patron of Getaway Girls.

Speaking about the charity last year, the former star of Coronation Street and Waterloo Road said: “As a woman from Leeds and a mum, I try to be a positive role model and tell girls to aspire to be the best they can.”

Getaway Girls is largely funded by Leeds City Council but the charity also has financial support from, among others, Comic Relief and Children in Need.

For more about Getaway Girls, visit www.getawaygirls.co.uk or call 0113 240 5894.