Blow the Whistle - Peile House Wellness Centre

Blow the Whistle is a campaign run by the South Yorkshire Echo, fundraising for YWCA Yorkshire (Young Women’s Christian Association), raising money to build a new well-being centre at Peile House. Since 1975 YWCA has provided accommodation at Peile House for young women who find themselves without shelter or support. These young women, aged 16-25, and their children, are often forced onto the streets by domestic violence. YWCA offers them a new start at life, in a safe and supportive environment away from the harm caused by abusers.

Blow the Whistle aims to raise £8000 for YWCA Yorkshire. This money will go towards the construction of a new garden room at Peile House hostel where YWCA Yorkshire can run mindfulness and well-being workshops. The room will also serve as an exercise facility where the young victims can work through their anger. We hope to raise enough money to fund treadmills, punching bags and more so that the victims have a safe space where they can release their frustration, and move on positively with their lives.

In 2018, the year of the last world cup, reports of domestic assaults causing injury in South Yorkshire increased by 1488%. We hope that by striking early, and raising as much awareness as possible, we can prevent another spike in domestic violence figures as Qatar 2022 approaches. Enough is enough, no scoreline justifies abuse.