Organisations unite to tackle violence against women and girls at community forum

Professionals and organisations from across the borough came together this summer for the latest instalment of the VAWG Community Forum, focused on strengthening collaboration and empowering services to better support survivors.

Hosted jointly by Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, the forum provided a valuable networking space for those working in the VAWG sector to build relationships, exchange ideas and develop more connected, survivor-centred approaches to tackling violence and abuse. This summer’s session centred on improving collaboration across services, breaking down silos and putting survivors at the heart of decision-making.

Councillor Katie Mansfield, Richmond Council’s White Ribbon Champion, said:

“For the past few years, this Forum has been a powerful reminder that real change is only possible when we work together. By opening up conversation across organisations, we’re improving professional confidence and coordination whilst creating the conditions for a much stronger response to VAWG that centres survivors' voices. We remain absolutely committed to taking meaningful, joined-up action and ensuring women and girls in the borough feel safe, supported and heard.”

In July 2024, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing declared VAWG a ‘national emergency’, with figures showing it accounts for nearly 20% of recorded crime in England and Wales. In addition to this, the recent National Audit Office (NAO) report on tackling VAWG recognised that stronger cross-sector collaboration, shared learning, and locally led innovation is vital for making long-term progress. At a time when national attention is now sharply focused on the scale of the issue, the Forum continues to lead locally by innovating and ensuring the borough is working proactively to tackle the issue.

At the Forum, professionals from a wide range of organisations - including the Metropolitan Police, health services and community groups - explored how they could better align their approaches, support each other, and work more creatively to improve safety for women and girls in the boroughs.

The event also provides a platform for professionals to share tools, best practices and innovative approaches to prevention and intervention. Since 2022, it has provided a crucial opportunity to break down barriers, understand each other’s work more deeply, and build a shared vision for ending violence against women and girls.

As we move forward, we will continue working closely with the Metropolitan Police, local organisations and specialist professionals to coordinate strong and sustained action. This includes embedding learning from the forum into local strategies, expanding access to services and developing community-led solutions that improve outcomes for survivors.