PFCC and partner funded project promoting safety of Women and Girls wins prestigious national award

A PFCC-backed partner project to identify ways to make Chelmsford’s Central Park and two other locations safer, more inclusive, and more welcoming for girls, young women, and gender diverse young people has won a prestigious national award.

Last year, a group of young students from the city volunteered their time to work with PFCC partners Chelmsford City Council, consultants Social Place, and the charity Make Space for Girls to identify ways to make the city’s Central Park safer. The project was backed with funding from the PFCC.

On Monday night, teachers Elli Scott (The Boswells School) and Jess Ellinopoulou (The Boswells School) joined Kaylie Charlery (Chelmsford City Council), Imogen Clark (Make Space for Girls), Spencer Clarke (Chelmsford City Council and Maldon District Council working on behalf of their respective Community Safety Partnerships) visited the 2024 Inspire Future Generations Awards, organised by the Thornton Education Trust.

The project team were pleased to learn the project won the Youth Long-Term Programme category.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Congratulations to the whole team for a worthy project which opens up Central Park as a safe space for women and girls. The PFCC is pleased to support innovative projects such as this which are driving change to create safe, secure communities across Essex.”

Two other projects, Angel Meadow (Broomfield) working with Chelmer Valley High School, and Promenade Park (Maldon) working with the Plume Academy are also progressing well. The Maldon project has been used to ensure that the design of the new skateboard facility at Promenade Park which is funded by the PFCC and planned for this summer is more inclusive and suitable for all users.

Spencer Clarke, who oversees the community safety function for Chelmsford City Council and Maldon District Council, spoke further about the project.

Spencer said: “Early in 2024 we partnered with the charity Make Space for Girls and the consultants Social Place. The focus of this work was to make our green spaces safer and more inclusive for young girls and gender diverse young people.

“We have now completed three consultations at urban, rural and destination park locations working with Year 9 students from local schools. Their ideas have been fantastic, installing colourful hang-out areas in safe, green spaces, together with street art projects and other ideas for each area.

“The work with these students has been inspiring, for all our partners, and encouraging young people to use our green spaces more effectively can have clear public health benefits by improving mental health and reducing teenage obesity. We hope the project is contributing to a wider conversation around preventing violence against women and girls and driving effective change.”