MAKING SAFER PLACES

Background to the project

“Urban environments where women feel safe to go about their everyday lives without fear”

is the vision behind the Making Safer Places project. The quotes below illustrate that women want to live, work and socialise in safer environments and that women have something to contribute to the community safety agenda.

” I will definitely notice things like hidden corners and lighting levels now but I also think that I could get in touch with the council and say I think it is dangerous here, what are you going to do about it?”

Project participant from the School’s Safety Check: Pedestrian Routes in Hammersmith and Fulham.

“Safety in the area would increase if there were more amenities or the opening hours for shops were extended, as this would increase the number of people in the street and not make it seem so deserted”

Project Participant from the Bangladeshi Women’s Shopping Audit Group.

Making Safer Places is specifically interested in the experience of black and minority ethnic women, older women and disabled women, whose social and physical vulnerability - both real and perceived - makes an impact on their quality of life. The wider community in urban areas and policy/decision-makers with a regeneration and community safety remit are also key interest groups.

The project has been bringing women onto the regeneration and community safety agenda so that they can enjoy a greater sense of safety, develop their self-confidence, economic and social independence and contribute to a more sustainable community life.

AIMS OF THE PROJECT

KEY OBJECTIVES

Making Safer Places National Conference

The Making Safer Places national conference, Women’s Safety in Our Cities, took place on 18th November 2005, with almost 100 participants. The conference marked the end of the 3 year pilot project and sought to disseminate the project and place it in the wider context of women’s safety.