New women’s centre in Scarborough to provide safe, specialist support
It will open later this month
A new Women’s Centre is set to open in Scarborough later this month, creating a safe and welcoming environment for women who need tailored, trauma-informed support. The centre will serve women in the town and surrounding coastal areas, particularly those facing multiple challenges such as trauma, abuse, poor mental health, or financial hardship.
Commissioned by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, the new facility builds on the successful model already running in York. The Combined Authority is funding the centre’s rent and furnishing, contributing £12,500 a year to help deliver vital services.
The centre will feature a kitchen, bathroom, laundry facilities, and dedicated spaces for one-to-one and group sessions. Designed around a ‘whole system’ approach, it will also host trusted partner organisations including probation, housing, financial support, health providers, and voluntary sector groups — all under one roof.
According to the Ministry of Justice’s Female Offender Strategy, women’s offending is often linked to factors such as mental ill health, coercive relationships, substance misuse, and economic difficulties. Women can also face barriers in accessing mainstream services and are at risk of being unfairly criminalised for offences connected to their experience of abuse.
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, visited the centre for a recent partners open day. She said:
“The Mayor and I are determined to tackle the levels of violence against women and girls in our region and to deliver safe places for all. It has been great to see so many partners sharing that vision at this week’s open day for our new women’s centre in Scarborough.
“One in four women will be a victim of domestic abuse during the course of their lifetime and last year in York and North Yorkshire support services worked with over 14,000 victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. This new Women’s Centre will deliver a step change in the support available to women in Scarborough and the surrounding area.
Thank you to our partners who’ve helped to make this happen. The hard work starts now but we’re determined to do all we can to deliver safe places for everyone in our region.”