It's not only the injustice that drives us,
it's her hope for a better life.
Supporting disadvantaged and marginalised women and girls to have a fair chance at a better life
Our Vision All women and girls are safe and healthy.
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Our Purpose Supporting disadvantaged and marginalised women and girls to have a fair chance at a better life.
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Our Mission Women's Health Matters exists to support women and girls to live safe and healthy lives. We achieve this by providing a holistic, trauma-informed service for women and girls who are socially, economically, or politically marginalised. This includes, but is not limited to, those affected by domestic abuse, those whose children live elsewhere, those accessing maternity services, women seeking asylum, women with disabilities, and women and their children experiencing trauma.
We take a woman-centred holistic approach, creating a safe, nurturing environment to help women and girls recover their confidence, explore their own needs, regain control of their lives, and build secure and healthy family relationships.
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Our Values
By women, with women - A women-led organisation, working with, and responsive to, the needs of women, their families, and girls.
Warm - We are respectful, compassionate, and kind. We provide welcoming and safe spaces and remove barriers to engagement.
Brave - We are bold, resilient, and courageous in our approach, and encourage bravery and strength in those we support.
Empowering - Women are the experts in their own lives. We work holistically to empower, inspire, and support them.
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Who are WHM?
Women’s Health Matters was founded in 1987 by a group of women who recognised the struggles other women in their communities were having with mental health, domestic violence, poverty, and loneliness. They came together to provide support for those women, and, through dedication and hard work, Women’s Health Matters became a registered charity in 1995.
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In the years since, though the staff and projects may have changed, our ethos at Women’s Health Matters has stayed the same; working together with women, their families, and girls to make their lives safer. The issues first identified in 1987 still impact women and girls in Leeds today and we continue to support and meet the needs of women and girls to make a place of safety, so that they have a better chance of a better life.
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We work intensively with around 1200 women, their families, and girls each year in and around Leeds. These women and girls are most at risk, including those experiencing domestic violence, sexual and emotional abuse, those with children in care or at risk of being removed, women seeking asylum, women with learning disabilities, and women with complex needs or mental health and wellbeing needs. We also support with parenting and pregnancy choices. We take a woman-centred holistic approach, creating a safe, nurturing environment to help women and girls recover their confidence, explore their own needs and regain control over their lives.
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We specialise in group work, peer support, and providing one-to-one support. Our broad health remit enables women and girls experiencing violence and abuse to raise these issues in safety and to receive support without stigma or partner suspicion. Our outreach work allows us to broaden our reach to a wide range of women who have often found it difficult to work with statutory services. We create a safe environment where women can build trusting relationships and begin to recover their health and regain control of their lives.
"Thanks to Women’s Health Matters I feel a lot better. I’ve left the person who mistreated me and realised I don’t need to be with anyone to be happy. I’m a lot more confident. I’ve got my fire back about me!"
Our Impact
We work with women and girls struggling to make their way out of abuse, exploitation and trauma - building the services she needs delivered in an environment that is non-stigmatising, non-shaming, collaborative and empowering.
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Our 2024 evaluation shows:
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95% better understand what abuse is
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98% feel better able to respond to an abusive relationship
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99% feel able to leave an abusive relationship
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97% increase their self-confidence
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96% feel better about themselves
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94% feel better able to stand up for themselves
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98% have improved mental wellbeing
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93% have improved their physical wellbeing
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93% feel safer
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93% feel less anxious
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94% feel more positive about the future
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95% make better choices
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94% have widened their support network
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94% feel less lonely
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93% have made friends who understand them
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81% feel more ready to get a job, access training or volunteer.
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95% said they received help that they couldn't have received elsewhere.
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When asked how the support they’ve received from Women’s Health Matters has directly or indirectly helped their children:
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100% of parents agreed their children have increased their confidence
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100% of parents agreed their children have improved mental wellbeing
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98% of parents agreed their children have learnt new things.
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80% of parents agreed that their children feel safer
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78% of parents feel their children have made friends
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96% of parents agreed they have increased their confidence in parenting
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96% of parents agreed they have improved their parenting skills.
Why are we needed?
There were 63,914 domestic abuse-related incidents reported to West Yorkshire Police in 2022/23. That equates to a stunning one every 8.2 minutes.
West Yorkshire Police (May 2023)
Contact Women's Health Matters
Our strength is amplified with collective action, and you can help make a difference with Women's Health Matters right now! The support we receive is a huge driver of the good work we do in addressing some of society’s most challenging problems. Get in touch today and join our community in making a lasting impact.
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If you want support, please scroll up and complete a self referral form. Please do not message us if you want support as we need more information to accept referrals. Thank you!