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On Sunday, we were proud to host our Strong Women, Safer Spaces International Women’s Day event, funded by Walsall Council, and what a fantastic day it was.
20 local women joined us for a morning focused on movement, conversation and community. The event was supported by two wonderful volunteers, Rachel and Rebecca, who helped create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone attending.
Moving Together
We started the session with a taster fitness class, giving participants the opportunity to try a variety of activities including aerobics, Vi-Box and yoga. The session was designed to be accessible to all abilities and focused on building confidence, having fun and getting everyone moving in a relaxed and supportive environment.
One of the key aims of the day was to show that exercise doesn’t have to be intimidating or high-pressure. It can be social, enjoyable and something that brings people together.
Creating Space for Important Conversations
After the fitness session, we held a group discussion around women’s safety and what helps women feel safer in their communities. The conversation was open, honest and incredibly valuable, with women sharing their experiences, concerns and ideas for change.
Some of the key themes that came out of the discussion included:
Feeling that incidents are not always taken seriously when reported
Wanting more visible police presence and community support
The importance of educating young people about respect and behaviour
The need for more safe spaces and community activities for women
The importance of community – getting to know people in your area and looking out for one another
Many women also spoke about how feeling unsafe affects their daily routines, including avoiding certain places, not going out at night, changing routes, or making sure they are always with someone else.
Looking Ahead
The feedback from the event was extremely positive, and many of the women who attended said they would like more events like this where they can exercise, talk openly and feel part of a supportive community.
Following the discussion, one of the suggestions was to hold another session in the future and invite a female police officer to attend, so women can ask questions, share concerns and learn more about personal safety and reporting incidents.
This is something we are now looking into for a future event.
Thank You
We would like to say a big thank you to Walsall Council for funding this event and helping us create a safe and supportive space for women in our community. Events like this show how important it is to create spaces where women can come together, not just to exercise, but to talk, share experiences and support one another.
This event may have only been a few hours, but the conversations, connections and confidence built during that time will last much longer.
We’re already looking forward to the next one!