Stef's 100 Mile Challenge: Staying Put

On the last weekend of May this year I ran 100 miles in the Long Distance walkers Association 100 mile virtual footrace.  In addition to achieving a very longstanding goal, it was a really tough personal challenge.  My feet were in tatters afterwards.

I'd originally entered the Lady Anne's Way 100 mile event but this was deferred until January 2022. Here we are in January 2022 and I'm due to start the LAW100 at 6am on Saturday morning 29th January. The route is littered with stiles, there's a storm coming, I'll be continuing through the night, it's going to be tough. Please make it with my while by donating to this cause.

Staying Put is a domestic and sexual abuse support services charity covering the whole of  West Yorkshire. They work with women, men and children who are victims and survivors, and with their families. They also work with perpetrators of domestic and sexual abuse in challenging their behaviour and actions.

Domestic and sexual abuse can affect anyone from any background at any stage in their life. The Covid 19 pandemic lockdowns and the message to stay at home to save lives have undoubtedly saved many lives, but this has resulted in an escalating risk to vulnerable people being abused at home.  The referral rate to Staying Put's services has increased by approximately 200 more referrals every month since March 2020. Their work is needed now more than ever.

Your donation will help to fund the costs of Staying Put's vital services and this will be greatly appreciated by me, by Staying Put, and by those vulnerable people who Staying Put support.

My employers NPS Leeds have offered to fund match all donations made by anyone who works for NPS Leeds. To allow me to identify these donations, if you work for NPS Leeds please highlight this in the comments when you donate.


The key services Staying Put provide are:

Helpline and web chat - a confidential service offering a referral process from initial assessment to internal or external services.

Out-of-hours response - working with West Yorkshire Police to respond to domestic abuse incidents and safeguard vulnerable individuals.

Independent domestic violence advisors service - support for survivors of gender-based violence, including those at high risk of harm or homicide. They give a voice to survivors, enabling them to pursue justice and put measures in place to begin a new
life. 

Independent sexual violence advisors service - providing support to anyone whose case is going through the criminal justice system and support for victims who do not wish to make a report.

Accommodation - refuge centres and dispersed housing units offering a safe place for survivors (of any gender) with specialist staff providing the building blocks needed to begin a new life. This helps survivors to overcome the impact of abuse and receive practical and emotional support.

Floating support - housing-related support to vulnerable people to enable them to maintain independence in their own home. This service supports the individual to become independent, and often means they can continue to live at home.

Recovery and resilience - a trauma-informed approach to recovery from domestic and sexual abuse for all family members. They provide recovery groups that raise awareness of abuse and focus on healthy relationships, working with survivors to develop confidence, and with community groups to educate.

Affordable Legal Services - dedicated to supporting people affected by domestic and sexual abuse. The scheme offers legal advice to victims and survivors who are not eligible for legal aid.

Male Victim Support - promoting their services in communities to urge men to come forward and not suffer, Staying Put are developing their male victim support and have recently placed male survivors within safe and specialist staffed accommodation.

Sanctuary scheme - home security measures that support households to be safe at home. This enables individuals experiencing domestic abuse to live safely in their home and stay within their community and support groups. Children can remain at their school and within their group of friends, avoiding the disruption to their education caused by relocating.