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Celebrating and Supporting 40 years of WHM in 2027
In 2027, Women’s Health Matters celebrates 40 years of supporting women and girls in Leeds to live safe and healthy lives. To mark this special milestone, we’re planning 40 events to celebrate our journey, our impact, and the women and communities we have supported over the last four decades.
40 years of supporting women and girls
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 create a space where women could access the support they need.
Over the past four decades, our staff and projects have evolved, but our ethos has remained the same: working alongside women, girls, and their families to make their lives safer. Sadly, the issues first identified in 1987 still impact women and girls today:
An estimated 2.2 million females aged 16 years and over, experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025. (Office for National Statistics, 2025)
West Yorkshire Police recorded 67,199 domestic abuse incidents in 2023. This is around one incident every 8 minutes. (West Yorkshire Police, 2024)
More than 30% of young women aged 17-25 have a mental health problem – the highest rate for any age group in England. Young women’s mental health has got dramatically worse over the last decade. Male violence, discrimination, financial pressures, societal expectations and the Covid-19 pandemic have all put young women’s mental health at greater risk. (Centre for Mental Health, 2025)
There were approximately 107,000 looked-after children in the UK in 2022/23. In the last five years, the population of looked-after children in the UK has increased by 8%. (NSPCC Learning, 2024)
These figures highlight the scale of challenges women and girls continue to face, reinforcing why accessible and specialised support remains so important.
Making a difference every day
At Women's Health Matters, we work intensively with around 1500 women, girls and their families each year. We support those who are most at risk of harm, 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 specialise in group work, peer support, and one-to-one support, and we recognise that for many women and girls, seeking safety is a complex and ongoing journey.
We therefore provide a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space where they can access the support, information and practical help they need. Through a woman-centred approach, we support women and girls to recover their confidence, explore their own needs, regain control of their lives, and build safe, secure and healthy family relationships.
“This was a lifeline for me. I mean this with my whole heart, Women’s Health Matters gave me my life back.” – from our 2025-26 Annual Client Snapshot Survey
98%
reported that they feel better able to respond to abusive relationships
96%
reported having improved mental wellbeing
99%
reported that they feel able to get the support they need from WHM
Figures from our 2025-26 Annual Client Snapshot Survey - Read the full 2025-26 Snapshot Survey here
As we approach our 40th anniversary, this feedback reminds us why our work matters and why we want to ensure this support continues for as long as it is needed.
Get Involved: 40 for 40
Join us in celebrating 40 years of supporting women by helping us build an even brighter future for the next 40 years.
As part of our 40 for 40 campaign, we’re inviting organisations and individuals to get involved, raise funds and celebrate the difference we can make together.
Fundraise with your organisation
Organisations can take part by hosting their own fundraising event. Whether it’s a family fun day, a dress-down day, a quiz night or a 40-person challenge, there are plenty of ways to bring people together and have fun whilst raise money for a great cause.
Some organisations, including Horsforth Brewery, Left Bank Leeds, and Ramsden’s Solicitors, are already planning how they can celebrate and support 40 years of Women’s Health Matters in 2027.
We’re encouraging organisations to aim to raise £1,000 as part of our anniversary celebrations, although we understand this may not always be possible. Every contribution, whatever its size, will help us continue providing life-changing support to women and girls when they need it most, ensuring our services remain accessible to those facing some of life’s greatest challenges.
Other ways to get involved
You don’t need to organise a large fundraising event to make a difference. You could:
Take on a sponsored challenge.
Attend one of the fundraising events.
Share our 40 for 40 campaign on social media.
Spread the word about the work we do and the women and girls we support.
Every action, big or small, can help us reach more people and secure a brighter future for women and girls in Leeds.
Be part of our next 40 years!
For almost 40 years, Women’s Health Matters has stood alongside women and girls, helping them find safety, rebuild confidence and create healthier futures. Now, as we look ahead to 2027 and beyond, we want to celebrate everything we’ve achieved together and build on that legacy for the next 40 years.
Email taylor@womenshealthmatters.org.uk to get involved.
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