Together Women is an independent charity working across Yorkshire and Humberside. Together Women aims to make a difference to the lives of women offenders and women at risk of offending by helping them tackle the reasons they commit crimes through working with key workers in community and custody based women’s centres. Women can access advice on health, education and training, housing, substance misuse, finance and family issues; and all of the centres provide crèche facilities so that service users can focus on the issues they need to address while their children have fun in a safe environment.

These projects offer a gender specific response to women offenders or those at risk of offending. They operate as a one stop shop with a broad range of sessions and surgeries delivered on-site. On-site services focus upon nine pathways dealing with; emotional well-being, employment, education and training, housing, drugs and alcohol, finance, relationships, offending behaviour, interpersonal skills and domestic abuse.

A key element of the Together Women approach, is that the level and range of services are tailored to the individual needs of women determined by a full needs assessment. Involving service users in the design and review of their support is empowering and an important step in getting women to take control of their lives.

Currently, there are Together Women centres in Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Hull, HMP New Hall and HMP Askham Grange. They also provide Mentor and Advocacy Support to women on the Personality Disorder Pathway in the North of England.

Case studies

Please seek permission from Women’s Breakout or Together Women Projects prior to using any extracts.