WOMEN and girls in Bradford are learning self-defence skills at the district’s places of worship as part of a project supported by West Yorkshire Police.

The sessions – which are led by self-defence coach Suffia Hussain, of Goshukan Karate Academy – have been launched in an attempt to improve women’s safety.

Strengthening Faith Institutions (SFI) is working in partnership with West Yorkshire Police, with support from the Home Office, to deliver the project.

The first session was held at the Jamiyat-Tabligh-Ul-Islam mosque in Lidget Green last week.

Tomorrow, the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara on Leeds Road will see women and girls from the Sikh community take part.

“More is being done to support the safety of women and girls, which is a result of some of the horrible cases – like the one involving Sarah Everard – that we’ve seen,” said Karen Kaur, chair of trustees at the Gurdwara.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Suffia at last week's sessionSuffia at last week's session (Image: SFI)

“It’s very important in keeping our communities safe. Women can feel vulnerable and it’s getting darker earlier now, so we need to ensure people feel safe over the winter months.

“The Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara is very proud to be involved – when approached, we jumped at the chance.”

Ms Kaur added that the Gurdwara caters to many female students from India who are studying in Bradford.

“They’re from a different country and might not be aware of their surroundings,” she said.

“The Gurdwara is a safe space for them. We put up langar [a Sikh custom where free meals are served to all] for them and make them feel welcome.

“But these sessions aren’t just for international students, they’re for all women and girls.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Guru Gobind Singh GurdwaraThe Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara (Image: File)

“It’s time for more places of worship to not be restricted to the traditional ideas of just going there for prayer, but to be places for raising awareness on important issues.

“We hope this can be a stepping stone for us and that we can get involved in more, going forward.”

Rabbi Natan Levy, Head of Operations at SFI, said:  "It is the responsibility of the perpetrators, mainly men, to put an end to violence against women and girls.

“But empowering women to learn self-defence is a clear way to build bridges and keep women safer on the streets."

Dr Javed Bashir, also of SFI, added: “The sessions bring together women from different faiths to learn simple protection techniques, with expert advice from police on how to avoid dangerous situations. 

“We hope participants can become more confident and resilient through this.”

For more information, contact Karen Kaur on 07732 055438.