At a Glance
- Youth-led VAWG awareness event attended by over 30 young people
- Sessions covered consent, healthy relationships, sexual offences and safety
- Included self-defence workshop by Meridian Kung Fu
- Young attendees praised the event as supportive, educational and empowering
Youth-led event empowers young people to stand against violence towards women and girls
Young people from across the city came together on Tuesday 18 November for a youth-led session focused on tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
The event was developed by Anali, former mayor of Southend City Council Youth, and brought together more than 30 young people aged 11 to 18. Working with Essex Police and specialist local organisations, the group explored consent, healthy relationships, sexual offences, personal safety and how to seek support when needed.
Attendees also took part in a self-defence taster workshop led by Andy from Meridian Kung Fu, helping them build confidence and learn simple skills to help keep themselves safe.
Feedback from young people shows the value of the session:
“I’ve learnt and realised things I’ve not thought about before.”
“I learnt where to get support if needed.”
“It was super fun and educational.”
“Everybody was friendly and open to questions, very informative.”
“Respected privacy and handled the topic well.”
Anali, Former Mayor of Southend City Youth Council, said:
“It was truly a successful and moving evening with various organisations present such as Essex Police. From hearing someone who has gone through challenging situations as a woman, to learning more about Women’s safety in a self-defence class, ‘In Her Power’ was the perfect opportunity for any young person to feel more confident about themselves and how to access support.
“I believe that by building safe spaces for this work, we can reduce offenses and discriminatory behaviour against women will decrease as we as a society come together to fight it. Thank you to all of those involved in helping to make this happen and I hope Southend continues to involve their youth in making a difference in the lives of each and every woman by acknowledging risks and helping prevent them.”
Cllr Laurie Burton, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said:
“Everyone has a vital role in helping to end violence against women and girls, and that starts with listening, learning and standing alongside each other as these conversations are happening. I am proud to see our Youth Council creating awareness, and events where honest discussions can happen and where young people feel supported and informed.
“It is important that we all challenge harmful attitudes, promote respect, and make sure every resident in Southend knows where to go if they need help. Events like this show what can be achieved when we work together and put respect at the heart of the solution.”
A spokesperson for Essex police, said:
“Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains one of the most pressing issues of our time. When half of the population cannot feel safe, whether in public or in their own homes, it becomes a national crisis, and we will not ignore it. Tackling VAWG is a top priority for us, and we are relentless in pursuing offenders, working with Community Safety Partnerships, voluntary organisations to create safer spaces, and challenging harmful behaviours in our communities. We are also adapting every day to new threats, including those in the cyber world, because vigilance is key.
“We encourage everyone to think about how we interact with those around us and the impact our behaviour can have. Let’s make sure our actions reflect respect and care. And to anyone experiencing abuse: please report it. We are here to listen, to protect, and to act. Together, we can make Essex a safer place for everyone.”