On 3rd March 2021, Sarah Everard was kidnapped, raped and murdered by a male MET police officer. Since then, there have been 125 women who have been killed by a man. This is not a definitive number as in some cases, the perpetrator is yet to be identified.

These women range in age between 18 and 88 and the majority knew their attacker.
Since 2019, the number of women killed at the hands of a man has never dropped below two a week.

A report by UN Women UK found that 97% of women aged 18-24 had been sexually harassed and 80% of women of all ages reported experiencing sexual harassment in public.

Approximately 85,000 women in England and Wales alone experience sexual assault or rape every year. In 2020, there were just 2102 prosecutions and 1400 convictions.

During the pandemic, domestic violence increased by 19% in Northamptonshire, with ongoing lockdowns making it close to impossible for victims to access help or escape their abuser.

Raising awareness and working to end violence against women and girls is just one of the many reasons I’m passionate to be UN SDG 5: Gender Equality Champion for Northamptonshire Community Foundation.

The great news is that there are some amazing groups across Northamptonshire who are making a huge difference to the lives of women and girls.

Eve provides a range of trauma informed services for women and children escaping domestic abuse including refuge.

Rush2theDen runs GirlZone and Pamper and Chill evenings, providing women and girls a safe place to talk, make friends and ask for help whilst also offering special events to support survivors of abuse.

Relate Northamptonshire offers counselling, support and guidance for survivors and witnesses of domestic violence and emotional abuse, offering one-to-one support with highly experienced, qualified counsellors.

Many of these groups have been supported by the Avon Fund for Women and Girls, which supports a range of projects that aim to improve support for women and girls who are experiencing or at risk of violence and abuse as well as support for women and girls who face additional barriers in accessing services such as BAME communities.

Together, we have the power to be the change and we can improve the lives of women and girls in our County. If you would like to learn more and find out how you can get involved, contact us.