The Leeds-based charity wants to empower girls and young women.
BBC Radio 2 announced the news that the BBC's TV series, DIY SOS is taking on a new challenge in Leeds for a good cause.
Coming together with an army of volunteers and presenters from the channel, the project will begin in just nine days time but DIY SOS is appealing for people with a trade, skill or craft that live, work or can travel to the area of Seacroft, Leeds and help with the charity project.
DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles has said that the project is going to make a "real difference" to the women of Leeds and beyond that Getaway Girls support and the new home will offer a "much-needed safe space".
The charity supports young women ages 11-25. / Image: Getaway Girls
BBC Children in Need has dedicated £126,566.00 to Getaway Girls, noting that the money will "improve their self-esteem, awareness of CSE, and aspirations" through the charity's actions.
Getaway Girls is a Leeds-based charity that inspires and empowers girls and young women from the ages of 11 to 25 and beyond. The idea is that anyone can learn new skills and build their confidence, resilience and aspirations alike by meeting like-minded individuals and
Throughout the 30 years that the charity has been operating, Getaway Girls has supported over 13,500 young women.
The charity inspires women across Leeds. / Image: Getaway Girls
The BBC reported that the Director of Getaway Girls, Flavia Docherty has said: "We are thrilled to have been given this amazing opportunity and couldn't be more excited for the future of the charity.
"Without Children In Need's funding we wouldn't have been able to continue our work for this long and have the impact that we have done for girls and young women in Leeds over the years."
More information is expected to be announced over the coming days about this exciting new project.
The project will begin early next month. / Image: DIY SOS, Twitter
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Channel 4 is looking for adult virgins with ‘intimacy issues’ for next series of hit reality show
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before.
First hitting screens back in 2024 and having run for two successful seasons now, Virgin Island follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Sophie Smith -
25th July 2022 
