No Duff to provide free self defence classes for women and girls in St Helens

No Duff, a community interest company based at Wonderland Community Centre on Reflection Court, provides a mental health service for veterans and emergency service workers.

This includes a 24-hour-helpline for those in need, professional counselling and general support from other ex-service members.

As the organisation has grown, the small team have expanded their remit to help the community in any way they can, including fitness and self defence classes, housing and benefits assistance, and signposting to further mental health support.

Dave Leigh, director at No Duff

After the tragic deaths of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa made it clear the dangers women can face while walking alone, and the fear that this can create, the team at No Duff pitched their self defence classes to the Parr-Ticipate initiative to enable women and girls to better protect themselves and feel safer on our streets.

The Parr-based initiative, ran jointly by Merseyside Police, St Helens Council and Torus, asked groups to present their ideas to a local audience, with the community deciding which groups were successful.

It was then decided how the £38,000 funding pot would be split, with No Duff chosen as one of the 21 winning applicants - winning £2,000 to fund their classes.

£38,000 worth of funding was distributed to local community groups at the Parr-Ticipate event on Wednesday, December 8

Dave Leigh, Director of No Duff UK, said “I think this is a vitally important project in light of recent events all over the country.

"I want to give Women and Girls the awareness, knowledge, confidence and skills to be able to protect themselves in public if they are approached by one of the predators that we all know are out there”.

“Unlike most Martial Arts type classes out there I will be delivering both theory and practical elements of protecting yourself with an emphasis on escaping from the situation. It will be techniques that actually work in real life, not just sport.”

“Preference will be given to women and girls from the Parr area but if places are not filled it will be opened up to the rest of St. Helens”.

No Duff operate a mental health service for veterans and emergency service workers, as well as fitness and self defence classes and general support

Running the classes, Dave will use his thirty years of experience as working as a police officer for Merseyside Police to provide attendees with a professional skillset to protect themselves.

With half of this time spent on the front line, Dave has also worked as the Lead Personal Safety Instructor for the force and represented the North West on a national self defence and restraint committee.

His expertise has also recently been utilised on the new BBC Drama ‘The Responder’ starring Martin Freeman - parts of which were filmed in St.Helens.

Dave added: "I honestly believe that this type of training should even be delivered in schools from Year 7 upwards to both girls and boys, to teach them to protect themselves and instil respect for others at the same time.”

The classes are due to start in January 2022, with the funding able to provide seven courses of 6 one-hour classes, for 16 women and girls - a total of 112 places.

For more information, contact Dave on daveleigh1967@hotmail.co.uk or on No Duff's Facebook page here