Commissioner Visits Blackburn Project Helping Women and Girls Feel Safer in Public Spaces

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw has visited a Blackburn community project helping women and girls feel safer, more confident and better supported in public spaces through funding from his Community Fund, which reinvests money seized from criminals back into Lancashire communities.

The Commissioner visited the S.A.S. Rights CIC She Connects: Safer Parks Project, a 14-week programme designed to support women and girls from minoritised faith communities through a range of outdoor activities, wellbeing sessions and safety-focused workshops. The project received £5,000 from the Commissioner’s Community Fund.

Delivered at locations including Witton Park, Queen’s Park and Little Harwood Community Centre, the initiative aims to help women and girls feel more confident accessing public spaces, while tackling issues linked to violence against women and girls, social isolation and community safety. Activities include sports, creative arts, confidence-building sessions and discussions around topics such as personal safety, digital safety and healthy relationships.

During the visit, the Commissioner met participants and project leaders to hear how the programme is supporting women and girls from communities that can often face additional barriers to accessing services and activities.

He also learned more about the project’s work to create safe spaces where women can build confidence, develop new skills and speak openly about issues affecting them, taking part in a discussing around feelings of safety in park areas.

Speaking after the visit, Clive Grunshaw said:

“It was a pleasure to visit S.A.S. Rights and see first-hand the impact this project is having on the lives of women and girls in Blackburn.

“We know that feeling safe in public spaces is incredibly important. This programme is helping participants build confidence, develop new skills and access support in an environment where they feel comfortable and supported.

“My Community Fund is about investing money taken from criminals into projects that make a real difference. By supporting initiatives like this, we can help prevent harm, improve confidence and create safer communities across Lancashire.”

S.A.S Rights Director Saima Afzal MBE said:

“PCC funding has enabled us to create a vital outlet for women who may otherwise have none. Through this project, women are not only taking part in activities but also sharing powerful insights into what makes parks feel safe or unsafe; from lighting and visibility to shrubbery, antisocial behaviour and the fear of walking alone, especially during darker evenings.

“Their lived experiences are shaping practical recommendations for safer public and park spaces.

“The funding has also allowed women to design and occupy the space together, creating a collective environment that significantly increases feelings of safety, confidence and wellbeing. This wrap‑around, long‑term support simply wouldn’t be possible without PCC investment, and we are grateful for the Commissioner’s commitment to improving safety and strengthening community wellbeing and feelings of safety.”

The Commissioner’s Community Fund uses money recovered from criminals to support projects that prevent crime, improve safety and strengthen communities across Lancashire. Recently, another £90k was invested in 13 projects across the county.