Dozens of women gather in North East Lincolnshire to shape new women's safety charter
The charter sets out five key pledges to help make streets and public spaces safer
More than 60 women have come together in North East Lincolnshire to help shape a new charter aimed at improving safety for women and girls.
The workshop was held on 3rd September 2026 at the Holiday Inn on Wellowgate in Grimsby.
It was organised by the North East Lincolnshire Women's Safety Charter Group, who say the turnout was so high they had to split into two rooms.
The charter involves a series of pledges and actions for businesses, organisations and individuals to commit to.
What the charter includes
The full wording was unveiled for the first time at the workshop.
It contains five core pledges:
- "We/I will help make our streets and public spaces safer"
- "We/I will not tolerate harassment, abuse or intimidation, in person or online"
- "We/I will listen to women and girls"
- "I/we will help improve reporting and access to support services"
- "We/I will promote respect, education and show solidarity"
Each pledge is backed by practical actions, such as making sure entrances and exits are well-lit.
North East Lincolnshire Women's Safety Charter Group representative Amelia Augusta said: "We had the most wonderful night, with over 60 women from across the area, women of all ages, beliefs, and races."
She added: "Everyone was so passionate, talking about everything, connecting with people they already knew and meeting lots of new people. There were so many ideas flowing."
The idea for the charter came from the Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes Labour Women's Group and has been developed since February.
The group says it is intended to be cross-party and appeal to as many people as possible.
The women's officer for the local Labour Party, Sylvia Moss, spoke at the event about why the charter had been created.
"Male violence against women and girls is not going away," she said.
Ms Moss was part of a group 50 years ago called Grimsby Women's Group, which successfully campaigned for a women's refuge in the area.
She said North East Lincolnshire was not the first place to develop a women's safety charter, but was one of the first, and had drawn inspiration from charters elsewhere.
Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, was unable to attend but gave her support in a statement read out at the event.
"My hope is that this campaign will help raise awareness, that the safety of women and girls must be a whole community responsibility," she said.
The group hopes to see the charter implemented across North East Lincolnshire by the end of the year, taking it to the public, businesses, charities, faith groups, schools and the local council.
Ms Moss said the charter was open to all, adding: "We want to engage with men too, later in the process."
A survey is also planned this month to gather ideas from those who could not attend, including men who want to contribute.