Focus on increased safety for women and girls as Council supports White Ribbon Day

Communities & Neighborhoods

• The Council is supporting White Ribbon Day, which takes place on Monday
• Women experiencing domestic violence encouraged to call Berkshire Women's Aid for help
• Measures to increase safety include cctv, better lighting and training for town centre venue staff

The Council is highlighting its commitment to ending violence against women and girls ahead of White Ribbon Day on Monday 25 November, which is followed by 16 days of activism.

The theme of White Ribbon Day this year is 'It Starts With Men', as a means of removing the responsibility on women to 'change their circumstances' and encouraging men to hold themselves accountable as a significant part of the picture. The onus is on everyone in the community to affect positive behaviour change and challenge and transform attitudes and behaviours which can cause detrimental effects to the women and girls within our communities.

Residents who are experiencing domestic abuse, or know someone who is and need support, are being urged to call Berkshire Women's Aid, a service commissioned by the Council to provide refuge services and a helpline for those who need it. The BWA helpline is 0808 801 0882 and provides a dedicated service supporting survivors of domestic abuse. Anyone in immediate danger should call 999 for the police.

Over the past year, Reading Council has worked with partners to implement a range of training and initiatives to help improve the safety of women and girls in Reading town centre.

Last year a raft of additional safety measures were installed to improve the safety of women and girls in Reading town centre. These included additional cctv cameras, more street lighting in Chain Street and Union Street and a town centre Safe Space to assist those in need.

This has been supplemented in recent months by a range of training sessions and initiatives, led by Reading BID, to help ensure women and girls feel safer in town in the evenings and support the town centre's night-time economy.

These include:

• Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) Training for hospitality staff at the Council offices, including learning about spiking and what to look for in victims and perpetrators
• Self-defence classes for venue management and staff to learn techniques to keep them safe at work
• Drink spiking and urine testing kits distributed to all venues
• Restaurants and pubs issued with Ask for Angela posters for the public and also staff training posters on the subject to ensure they are aware of the campaign should a vulnerable woman "Ask for Angela" at their venue

The WAVE training, designed in partnership with security professionals, took place in August and allowed Reading's night club, bar and restaurant staff to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to identify vulnerability and make appropriate interventions. This included training around Ask for Angela, whereby that code phrase can be used by customers in bars and other venues to identify when they are feeling in danger or are in an uncomfortable situation.

The improvements are being made through a working partnership between the Council, Thames Valley Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Reading's Business Improvement District (BID) and promotes the work of the Community Safety Partnership in this area.

The Council will be supporting partners' events around White Ribbon Day, including the University of Reading's Reclaim The Night March which takes place on Friday 29 November at 5pm, meeting at Reading Town Hall, marching for an end to gender-based violence. Women and those that identify as women are invited to participate in the March. Find out more at https://readingsu.co.uk/whats-on/id/304-reclaim-the-night-march.

It will additionally be supporting the University's evening of raising awareness and empowering action at University of Reading's Students Union 360 on Monday 25 November from 6pm - 9pm which will include discussions and self-defence workshops aimed at women. Find out more at https://readingsu.co.uk/whats-on/id/302-white-ribbon-day-event.

Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:

"This Council takes very seriously the issue of reducing violence against women and girls in our community. Substantial effort goes into ensuring we're constantly working on strands within the Council and with our partners to support their safety. This includes supporting Reading BID's training of venue staff, enhancing lighting and cctv in the town centre, and commissioning Berkshire Women's Aid to deliver safe accommodation services in Reading via refuges and outreach workers".