Reducing violence against women and girls – and the fear of violence – is a key priority for the Staffordshire Commissioner.In November 2021, £300,000 was invested in projects to improve the safety of women and girls in Hanley, Stafford, Cannock, Newcastle and Burton as part of the Safety of Women at Night (SWaN) Fund, following a successful bid submitted by the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office.The Home Office funding is designed to fund initiatives focused on preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the night-time economy, in venues and on public transport. It also aims to reduce the fear of VAWG, and improve women’s feelings of safety in public spaces at night.In Hanley, Stafford, Cannock, Newcastle and Burton, the funding was used to develop a
range of initiatives including:
- Developing safe places within identified night-time locations, where women can seek advice, first aid and support
- Establishing safe routes to and from public transport in busy night-time locations
- Providing marshals / street pastors in busy night-time locations, to offer advice, signposting, basic first aid and help in managing the allocation of taxis
- Delivering vulnerability training for staff in the night-time economy
- Developing an accredited Women’s Night Safety Charter for organisations operating at night
- Developing awareness campaigns around different aspects of women’s safety at night.
