Leeds women's safety bus could close due to funding uncertainty

The bus has helped more than 1000 women since it was started running in 2022

A bus which provides a safe space for women and girls on a night out in Leeds could be axed due to a lack of funding.

The Women's Night Safe Space Bus has helped more than 1,000 women in the past year with things like free phone charging and safety and medical help.

Those who run it said it could continue until September but they needed to raise £10,000 to fund it for longer.

They fear if it closes, women would be more likely to find themselves in vulnerable situations with no help.

The bus, which started in November 2022, is located outside the Corn Exchange every Saturday night and provides help for women in "all sorts of different scenarios".

Run by Women Friendly Leeds and the Safer Leeds Partnership, it came about after the Leeds Women's Safety survey found many respondents felt unsafe in the city centre at night.

'Really calm'

The team includes paramedics, mental health workers and other people offering support.

Shreena Gobey ,from the Women's Night Safe Space Bus, said: "Our approach is a really calm one. We don't need to know your name. It's delivered by people to help you in the moment and how you want to be helped.

"We're reaching lots of women who need help at that moment. It might just be at 2am on a Saturday but that can open up a conversation for support for other things."

Other services provided by the bus include help with ordering taxis, a safe place to report incidents to the police and signposting to longer term support.

Women can also access free items such as period products, condoms, water, warm drinks and flip flops.

Ms Gobey said the funding had previously come from central government but because the criteria had changed, it couldn't now be accessed and needed to look at alternatives.

"We are incredibly proud of dedication and passion of the Women's Night Safe Space team and the public awareness they have built around women's safety, but we are just scratching the surface of what this project can become," she said.

"We are now urging the people of Leeds to come together and take action to save this crucial project and keep women and girls safe."