Leeds City College

More than 1,000 women and girls across Leeds will gain vital self-defence, wellbeing and career development skills thanks to an initiative our college is playing a key role in.

The UniteHer programme is being co-led by our Public Services department and Innovation and Development team, in partnership with CATCH Leeds.

Funded by the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s Safer Communities Fund, UniteHer aims to build confidence, improve safety and create career pathways for women and girls, particularly from vulnerable or underrepresented backgrounds.

Building confidence and safety

Participants will take part in sessions covering boxing, yoga and self-defence, alongside workshops focused on mental health, employability and wellbeing.

The programme’s self-defence focus is in response to growing concerns about violence against girls and women, which has risen by 37 per cent in the past five years across England and Wales. Building up the self-belief of those taking part, so that they feel confident enough to consider different career paths, will also be key.

Our Public Services Coach, Sidra Choudray, said: “Generally, women hold back because they don’t feel safe or confident enough to take part, especially in mixed spaces.

“Initiatives like this are crucial to empowering women, supporting representation in public services and creating safer communities.”

A collaborative effort for community impact

Delivered at CATCH Leeds’ Harehills base and across our campuses, the UniteHer sessions are available through referrals and have been tailored for staff and students. They have been designed to provide safe, supportive environments that enable participants to thrive, personally and professionally.

A spokesperson for CATCH Leeds said: “Collaborating with Leeds City College is a model that helps young people gain the skills, confidence and purpose they need to take their next steps into education or employment.”

Innovation and Development leading the way

Our funding team, and its partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Safer Communities Fund, was instrumental in securing the money for the project.

Group Project and Development Co-ordinator, Aysha Gulzar, said: “UniteHer embodies what we stand for as a college: collaboration, innovation and inclusion. By combining health, wellbeing and employability, we’re helping women and girls across Leeds feel safer and more confident about their futures.”

Pathways into public service careers

UniteHer also aims to open doors to careers in policing, fire and rescue, ambulance services and the armed forces. Participants will benefit from CV writing sessions, interview skills training and practical advice from our staff and industry professionals.

The programme has received £10,000 from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, which uses money seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act to invest in community safety initiatives.