This event launched a new ESRC funded project which aims to understand what is important for reducing and preventing male Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Plymouth.
The Plymouth VAWG Commission was set up following the devastating murders in Keyham in August 2021 and the murder of Bobbi-Anne McLeod in November 2021. It includes representatives from the Police, partner organisations, researchers and other members of the community from Plymouth.
Over the next year we will be working closely with members of the public in Plymouth including those from traditionally marginalised groups, to understand areas of importance in tackling VAWG, strengthen partnerships and knowledge exchange between organisations, and develop new research projects to reduce and prevent VAWG in Plymouth. Attendees will have the chance to hear about current and future plans in Plymouth and learn about ways in which they can be involved in the project.
PROGRAMME
The event began with a 10–15 minute presentation of a planned co-designed programme of work to develop projects to tackle VAWG that was due to take place in Plymouth from November 2022 until the end of September 2023. This was followed by a 30 minute panel discussion on this topic from researchers and project partners from key organisations in Plymouth who work to reduce and prevent violence against women and girls in the city about current and planned work. The event concluded with a 15 minute Q&A and a short film about the work of the Plymouth VAWG Commission.
The event began with a 10–15 minute presentation of a planned co-designed programme of work to develop projects to tackle VAWG that was due to take place in Plymouth from November 2022 until the end of September 2023. This was followed by a 30 minute panel discussion on this topic from researchers and project partners from key organisations in Plymouth who work to reduce and prevent violence against women and girls in the city about current and planned work. The event concluded with a 15 minute Q&A and a short film about the work of the Plymouth VAWG Commission.
Following the presentation and panel discussion there was an opportunity to meet the team and find out about ways on how to get involved in the project.
The talk and debate was led by Dr Lynne Callaghan, Senior Research Fellow PenARC, Community and Primary Care Research Group, and Dr Nick Axford, Associate Professor, Health Services, PenARC, Community and Primary Care Research Group. The panel discussion included Councillor Rebecca Smith (Plymouth VAWG Commission Chair), Inspector Andrew Hodges (Plymouth BCU Domestic Abuse Investigation Manager, Devon and Cornwall Police), Laura Juett, Public Health Specialist, Plymouth City Council and Tracey Lovelace, Spark Project and Trevi.
This event was open to people who live, work in and/or visit our city who are concerned about tackling violence against women and girls in Plymouth. Members of the public, practitioners, students and researchers were welcome to attend.
The event was supported by PenArc. PenArc works alongside health and social care professionals, researchers and local communities to address the immediate issues facing the health and social care system through applied health and care research.