Women in rural communities can face barriers in getting help due to isolation and lack of easy access to support.
This is where a Whole Systems Approach comes in, bringing together a range of providers and partners working collaboratively to support women in gender specific, trusted spaces. St Giles is working with HM Prison and Probation Service, the Policing, Fire and Crime Directorate of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA), City of York Council, North Yorkshire Council and community partners to increase provision and improve parity of services for women in York and North Yorkshire.
The region’s Whole Systems Approach supports women experiencing a range of issues – involvement in or risk of involvement in the justice system, domestic abuse, poverty, violence and exploitation. Many of the women are experiencing multiple issues requiring cross-cutting services which are easy to access and navigate.
On 10 March 2026, our colleague Kelly Broadbent, Operations Manager for Justice in Yorkshire, explained our part in the Whole Systems Approach in the region at an event in HMP Askham Grange in York. Kelly was joined by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime of York and North Yorkshire alongside local partners at the event, which committed to sustaining accessible, transformative services for women in the region.
This is where services such as St Giles’ Liberty Links van play such an important role. Operating in York and North Yorkshire, the van goes out into communities providing discreet outreach support to women who need to help isolated women facing challenges to accessing support services.
The team are also providing assertive outreach support to girls and young women at risk of violence and exploitation in Scarborough, alongside their longstanding work supporting women in the justice system to stabilise their lives and achieve positive futures.
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime said:
Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority for David Skaith, the Mayor and I. We know that around one in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime and last year there were 724 reports of coercive controlling behaviour in our region.
That is why it was great see so many professionals who share our goal under one roof at Askham Grange. York and North Yorkshire are leading the way with a whole system approach, that puts women and girls at the centre and wraps support services around them. It was great to hear about some of the progress that’s been made over the last year to improve the safety of women and girls in York and North Yorkshire. But we know there is still so much more to do and have plans to invest nearly £7 million into our victims’ services and partnership efforts over the next year to support this vital work.
The Whole System Approach in York and North Yorkshire supports the Government’s strategy to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade. With one in eight women experiencing some form of stalking, assault or abuse, partnership-driven work as set out in the Whole System Approach has become increasingly crucial.
Access their Services Directory here: https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/…/servicedirectory/