Select a region
A Channel Islands campaigner for women's safety at night has taken her work all the way to Chelsea FC.
Poppy Murray, founder of Guernsey charity SafetyNet and former Express reporter, is the creator of the BE LADS campaign which seeks to offer advice to help women and girls feel safer at night.
After introducing the campaign to more than 300 police officers in London, she recently presented the campaign to more than 100 students at Chelsea FC Foundation's 'Standing Together' event at the team's Stamford Bridge Stadium.
"As a Premier League football team, Chelsea FC has a fantastic platform to help shape positive change in the community," Poppy said.
"I was delighted to work with the Foundation to educate students about sexual assault in an age-appropriate manner."
Pictured: As well as working with Guernsey Police, Ms Murray has worked with UK forces too.
Poppy was joined by PC Gary Shuttleworth.
"BE LADS is a campaign that is intentionally directed at men and boys, and so finding men who are positive role models to be ambassadors for the campaign is paramount," she continued.
Pictured: More than 100 students took part.
“Garry was able to provide a unique perspective on why he follows the BE LADS advice," she said.
"I think it’s hugely important for young people to have positive male role models, particularly within the police to help rebuild public trust and confidence.”
Miss Murray created BE LADS in March 2021, in the wake of the case of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by a Metropolitan Police officer as she walked home from a friend’s house in Clapham.
“Some of the students at the event live near to where Sarah disappeared and were very familiar with the case," Poppy noted.
"For those students to be able to engage in meaningful conversation about the case, particularly with a serving police officer, was very significant.
"The students were extremely engaged in the activities and were forthcoming in sharing their ideas and asking questions.”
Miss Murray said the event had been a stark reminder of issues facing children in London.
“It was terribly sad to hear children as young as 12 recalling Sarah’s story and the impact it had on them and their families."
She noted that several of the students also raised the subject of carrying weapons to feel safer, which "presented an opportunity to educate them on the dangers of this behaviour".
“The students’ comments and stories served to highlight the importance of initiatives like the Standing Together project and BE LADS, to help create safer communities.”
Since its inception, the BE LADS Campaign has been delivered to police forces across the UK, including the Metropolitan Police, to the Royal British Legion, to businesses and in educational settings.
“I was asked by a girl at the event how I ended up working with the Chelsea FC Foundation," she said.
"It was lovely to be able to demonstrate that big change can come from small starts, and to promote the message that everyone has the power to make a difference."
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.