Scheme offers free self-defence lessons for women

Free self-defence lessons will be offered as part of the year-long initiative

A pilot scheme to make women and girls in part of west Leeds feel safer will be launched later.

SHE Safe, which will run in the Armley area, will offer free self-defence lessons to any woman who wants them.

The year-long initiative is being co-run by SHEnanigans, which is a friendship and activity group based in the area.

The project will be launched at the Interplay Theatre on Armley Ridge Road at 19:00 BST on Thursday.

Those taking part will also be given a demonstration about Walk Safe, a free Leeds-wide phone app designed to track the user's location and journeys.

It also shares route information and can alert contacts if the user needs help.

The self-defence lessons will be given by a qualified and experienced karate teacher who will be demonstrating moves that can protect attendees.

Lizzie Whewell, from SHEnanigans, said: "Armley is a great place to live but, like anywhere, we have issues which we can choose to ignore or choose to change.

"Through SHE Safe, we’re committed to the latter so that women and girls in our community feel safer and stronger.

"The launch night is the start of a year-long programme to embed initiatives that protect our female residents."

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