To receive an update on the equality and domestic abuse work currently being undertaken.

Louisa Dean, Communications and Marketing Manager, explained that equalities and domestic abuse were linked. The Women’s Equality Party had done a survey and discovered that women were apprehensive about going out, particularly after the recent Sarah Everard case. The white ribbon was a campaign opposed to male violence against women. To achieve white ribbon accreditation, an organisation would need to develop and commit to a three year action plan that would meet four areas - strategic leadership, engaging with men and boys, raising awareness and changing culture. The commitment was made by the senior managers in an organisation ensuring a whole organisation approach. The action plan was developed, led, and monitored by a steering group drawn from across the organisation. White Ribbon ambassadors were men who engaged with other men to call out abusive and sexist behaviour while women were White Ribbon champions who encouraged men to get involved.

Helen Preedy, who was the council’s Equality and Community Engagement Officer, had spoken to a variety of groups to find out what their thoughts were on the accreditation process. There was positive support for both men and women to be involved. Some thought that there should be a focus on organisations across the borough getting involved, as well as bringing in sports clubs or famous faces to front a campaign but build on existing campaigns previously run on White Ribbon UK day. Following the initial consultation sessions, a group met a couple of weeks ago to discuss what could be done as a collective - this included representatives from the council, as well as the Dash Charity, Women’s Equality Party and representatives from the Domestic Abuse Executive. The main discussion was around a safer streets application which had been submitted to Government but also how work could be done to change behaviour. The group would meet again soon and Louisa Dean asked if anyone else wanted to join. Plans were being put together working up to the White Ribbon Day. The accreditation process would be explored to see if it was something that RBWM wanted to progress.

The Chairman said that he was honoured to be the Chair of the steering group. Helen Preedy had done a significant amount of work on the project. At the last meeting, Andy Aldridge, Community Warden Lead, had attended and given the group some excellent ideas.

Kevin McDaniel said that the Chief Executive of the Windsor Learning Trust was doing some work around culture change, particularly with how the Windsor school system worked. He suggested that it would be good to link with the work being undertaken on the White Ribbon by RBWM.

ACTION – Kevin McDaniel to connect Louisa Dean and the Chief Executive of the Windsor Learning Trust to collaborate on the project together.

Councillor Tisi said that Danny Gomm in Achieving for Children was going to do some work in the autumn around family safety and it would be good to link in with him too.

Louisa Dean said that she would be meeting Danny Gomm later in the week and would discuss the project with him then.