Journeys of Change – a podcast series – supported by West Yorkshire Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund

Welcome to Journey of Change – a podcast sharing powerful, honest stories from women who have faced adversity and found the strength to transform their lives. These are voices that need to be heard – stories of resilience, courage, and hope.

In our very first episode, we sit down with Alison Lowe OBE, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire. She shares her journey—her childhood, the struggles she overcame, and how those experiences shaped her path into politics and public service.

🚨 Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual violence, bereavement, racism, and mental health struggles, including suicidal thoughts. These are difficult but vital conversations. If you are affected by anything discussed, support resources are available at the bottom of this page.

This podcast is proudly funded by the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, listen and be inspired.

You can also listen to the podcast on Spotify: follow the link here

Some Background to the project:
Much of our community project work draws on engaging with people from different ethnic / cultural backgrounds, bringing them together in a shared, safe space – to learn more about each other’s lives and to celebrate notions of difference and similarity.

We also develop projects that encourage participants to draw on their lived experience – to campaign and advocate for social change in areas like health, education and social care. We have a wealth of monitoring and evaluation that shows how women and girls lives have been impacted positively by this approach – e.g. how they have moved towards positions of safety and positively.

We believe there is a need to claim / reclaim ownership of the conversation at a local and regional level – giving local women from across communities the skills for media presentation / public platforms – to reason and argue for change and to show to other women that change is possible!

To this end, we have been funded by WY Mayor’s Office to co-produce a series of podcasts with local women and girls. We have brought groups of local women and girls together, and have trained up key facilitators, and have spent the last year out on the road, talking and listening and sharing key issues that affect women of all ages … the project goes live on the 14th March 2025 … watch this space!

Here are some of the wonderful women from ONE VOICE in Halifax and girls from Beech Hill Primary School discussing key topics and building relationships of trust!

The Journey of Change Podcast shares real, lived experiences of women overcoming adversity. Some episodes discuss sensitive and potentially distressing topics, including:
Child abuse
Domestic abuse
Sexual violence & rape
Bereavement & grief
Racism & discrimination
Mental health struggles & suicidal thoughts

If any of these topics affect you, support is available. Please reach out to someone you trust or contact one of the services listed below.

💙 You are not alone. Help is here. 💙
📌 Local (Calderdale) & National Support Services

🔹 Child Abuse & Safeguarding
Local Support (Calderdale):
NSPCC (Halifax Service Centre) – Support for children and families affected by abuse.
📞 0808 800 5000 | 🌐 www.nspcc.org.uk
Calderdale Safeguarding Partnership – For reporting concerns about a child.
📞 01422 393336 | 🌐 www.calderdale-safeguarding.co.uk
National Support:
Childline – Free, confidential support for children & young people.
📞 0800 1111 | 🌐 www.childline.org.uk
NSPCC – Help & advice for adults concerned about a child’s safety.
📞 0808 800 5000 | 🌐 www.nspcc.org.uk

🔹 Domestic Abuse
Local Support (Calderdale):
Calderdale Staying Safe – Support for anyone affected by domestic abuse.
📞 01422 323339 | 🌐 www.stayingsafe.org.uk
WomenCentre Calderdale & Kirklees – Specialist support for women facing abuse.
📞 01422 386500 | 🌐 www.womencentre.org.uk
National Support:
Refuge (National Domestic Abuse Helpline) – 24/7 support for anyone experiencing abuse.
📞 0808 2000 247 | 🌐 www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Men’s Advice Line – Support for men experiencing domestic abuse.
📞 0808 801 0327 | 🌐 www.mensadviceline.org.uk

🔹 Sexual Violence & Rape
Local Support (Calderdale):
Survivors West Yorkshire – Specialist support for male survivors of sexual abuse.
📞 07397 183 245 | 🌐 www.survivorswestyorkshire.org.uk
Kirklees & Calderdale Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre (KCRASAC) – Support for survivors of sexual violence.
📞 01484 450040 | 🌐 www.kcrasac.co.uk
National Support:
Rape Crisis England & Wales – Support for survivors of sexual violence.
📞 0808 802 9999 | 🌐 www.rapecrisis.org.uk
SurvivorsUK – Support for male survivors of sexual violence.
📞 0203 598 3898 | 🌐 www.survivorsuk.org

🔹 Bereavement & Grief
Local Support (Calderdale):
Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice (Huddersfield) – Support for families experiencing loss.
📞 01484 411040 | 🌐 www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk
Overgate Hospice (Elland) – Grief & bereavement support services.
📞 01422 379151 | 🌐 www.overgatehospice.org.uk
National Support:
Cruse Bereavement Support – Free support for anyone grieving a loss.
📞 0808 808 1677 | 🌐 www.cruse.org.uk
The Good Grief Trust – Practical advice & support for bereavement.
📞 0800 2600 400 | 🌐 www.thegoodgrieftrust.org

🔹 Racism & Discrimination
Local Support (Calderdale):
Calderdale Council Hate Crime Reporting – Report racist abuse or discrimination.
📞 01422 393336 | 🌐 www.calderdale.gov.uk
West Yorkshire Police Hate Crime Helpline – For reporting racial hate crimes.
📞 101 (or 999 in emergencies)
National Support:
Stop Hate UK – 24-hour support for those facing racial discrimination.
📞 0800 138 1625 | 🌐 www.stophateuk.org
Race Equality Foundation – Support & advocacy for racial equality.
📞 0207 922 0405 | 🌐 www.raceequalityfoundation.org.uk

🔹 Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
Local Support (Calderdale):
Healthy Minds Calderdale – Mental health support & crisis services.
📞 01422 345154 | 🌐 www.healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
Calderdale Mind – Advocacy & support for mental health conditions.
📞 01422 357414 | 🌐 www.calderdalemind.org.uk
National Support:
Samaritans – 24/7 emotional support for anyone struggling.
📞 116 123 (free) | 🌐 www.samaritans.org
Mind – Information & support for mental health conditions.
📞 0300 123 3393 | 🌐 www.mind.org.uk
Papyrus (Young Suicide Prevention) – For young people at risk of suicide.
📞 0800 068 4141 | 🌐 www.papyrus-uk.org