Help Spotlight: Getaway Girls
I recently had the chance to speak to Alia who is the operations manager at Getaway Girls. Thirty-five years ago, when Getaway Girls was newly launched, Alia was one of the first to attend. Now, she supports the daily operations of Getaway Girls as well as working alongside young girls, helping them build their confidence and supporting them to become amazing young women. Thanks to Alia, I got a lot of information about the fantastic support that Getaway Girls offer.
What is Getaway Girls?
Getaway Girls is a city-wide service for girls between the ages of 11-25, which empowers young girls and women across Leeds to support each other and build their confidence. The service is funded by various funders and offers support for those who need it, but they also create a space for girls to communicate, develop new skills and take part in fun activities.
What kind of support is available?
There are three types of support available at Getaway Girls: groups, peer and individual.
The group support consists of any girls or young women who want to get involved in a holiday scheme or a community project. Peer support is where young women with similar lived experiences are put together to support each other in a safe and creative way such as the creative writing group. Individual support can be intense one to one support for young women aged 13-25 led by a Complex Needs Worker. It can also involve practical support with their ‘Inspiring Futures’ programme designed for girls 16-25 who may need one to one support towards their next steps with their education, writing a CV or attending an interview.
How can I access the support?
You can call Getaway girls on 01132405894 to talk to a team member about the support they have on offer. You can also check out their website
Do I need a referral?
Many young people access the services through a number of ways, agency referrals, particularly for intense one to one support. However, you can also do a self-referral by joining half term activities and other community projects you may see on posters, the Getaway Girls website or by calling directly and speaking to staff. If you are under 18, you will need a consent form to participate in any groups. As Alia highlighted, the focus at Getaway Girls is ‘early prevention rather than intervention’. This means “it’s all about feeling that there is a safe space for you to have a conversation, fun and have opportunities”.
Extra information
Recently Getaway Girls were featured in BBC’s the Big Build where they got to design their dream building. Alia stressed the importance of having a permanent space for Getaway Girls and their users as it offers security for them to provide support. The new building has creative art spaces, a multi -media suite, counselling rooms and a relaxing crèche space for young mums and their little ones. Check out the one-hour special which aired on November 1st as part of the BBC children in need https://getawaygirls.co.uk
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