VAWG stall at Fresher's event
Barnet Council has teamed up with national cosmetics brand Barry M in a new campaign tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG),
The campaign is aimed at Gen Z, as women and girls aged 16-24 are more likely to be victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, rape and stalking crimes than any other age group.
However, Barnet’s one-stop shop for domestic abuse has shown that most users of the service are typically over 30 years old
So, the aims of the campaign are to engage with young women on domestic abuse, provide clear guidance on how to seek support, and to identify and report abuse, whether they are experiencing it themselves or witnessing it.
Last week the campaign engaged with over 400 students at Middlesex University with a digital quiz about VAWG that offered participants special Barry M products and discount codes.
Cllr Sara Conway, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Participation, said:
“In Barnet we are bringing safety and participation together by co-producing our combatting Violence Against Women and Girls work with local voices and partners.
“Many thanks to the hundreds of students involved as part of our ongoing #HearMyVoice partnership with Middlesex University and to leading local business Barry M for their support.
“This campaign is part of Barnet Council’s wider community safety programme to help tackle VAWG, including major investment in upgrading the borough’s CCTV system, piloting a Safe Havens network, the One Stop Shop for domestic abuse support, and a ground-breaking perpetrators programme designed to reduce reoffending.”
As well as the quiz there were discussions and post it boards where students could post comments, and more than 60 signed up for focus groups to contribute to shaping Barnet's VAWG Action Plan for 2025.
Barry M CEO and Managing Director, Dean Mero, said:
“Barry M has been based in Barnet since the 1980s and we’re delighted to support Barnet Council in this important initiative.
“Encouraging women and girls to understand more about and report abuse is vital, and we wholeheartedly share Barnet Borough’s vision of a world free from domestic abuse and violence.”
Two million women in England and Wales are estimated to be victims of violence perpetrated by men each year in an epidemic that was described as a national emergency by police chiefs earlier this year.
In Barnet, there were a total of 2,623 domestic abuse incidents reported to the police in the year ending 23/24.
The quiz is still available to take online: Do you know the facts about domestic abuse (can-campaigns.co.uk)