This charter is intended as a public commitment and prevention framework for organisations across Bracknell Forest. It does not replace:
Signatories are expected to use it alongside existing policies in:
The Women and Girls Safety Charter sets out a shared commitment to creating a safer, more inclusive community where everyone can live, work, study and socialise without fear of harassment, abuse or violence.
It provides a framework for:
It helps to:
The need for action is clear. National data for England and Wales indicates the scale and seriousness of violence against women and girls, including:
The Office for National Statistics estimated that 2.2 million women experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 20252.
Office for National Statistics, Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview: November 2025.
National policing leaders have stated that violence against women and girls (VAWG) accounts for around 20% of all recorded crime in England and Wales5.
National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing, National policing statement and call to action on violence against women and girls, July 2024
A local Women and Girls Safety Charter demonstrates leadership, prevention and collective responsibility. It makes clear that Bracknell Forest has a shared ambition to be a place where women and girls can feel safer, respected and able to participate fully in community life.
The charter supports action to:
It does this by encouraging:
While women and girls are disproportionately affected by many forms of violence, abuse and harassment, lasting change requires the active engagement of the whole community, including men and boys. We must all work together to:
Preventing violence, harassment and abuse is the responsibility of everyone. Creating safer environments for women and girls requires:
This charter recognises that lasting change can only be achieved when everyone plays their part to create a culture of safety, respect and equality. This includes:
The aim of this charter is to help prevent violence, harassment and intimidation. It will do this by making sure that women and girls feel safe, respected and included in:
It promotes early intervention, active allyship, shared responsibility and clear action to challenge harmful behaviour before it escalates.
The types of behaviour and risk the charter seeks to prevent, challenge or address include:
The charter has 2 parts. These are:
A public pledge is a visible commitment that organisations sign to confirm their role in:
This is in line with the purpose and vision of this charter.
A toolkit has been created to help all signatories implement the charter pledges.
It will help signatories put the charter pledges into practice through:
Examples of proposed tools are included under each pledge below.
By signing the Charter, signatories commit to the following prevention-focused pledges.
We commit to actively support and uphold the Bracknell Forest Women and Girls Safety Charter by:
A short maturity checklist covering:
Guidance for appointing a Women and Girls Safety Champion to:
We will challenge, address and not ignore behaviours that contribute to harm, including:
A ready-to-adopt template covering prevention, as well as safe challenge and clear responses to:
A code of conduct which sets out behaviour expectations for:
This code of conduct should make sure that everyone has a role in preventing harm and challenging inappropriate behaviour.
We will consider safety and inclusion in the design and management of our:
We will take proactive steps to:
A structured checklist for reviewing:
The audit will include prompts to identify prevention opportunities and early action.
We will help create safe spaces and trusted routes to support. We will do this by making sure people know how to act early and respond appropriately.
We will make sure that any woman or girl who feels vulnerable, unsafe or affected by inappropriate behaviour can access safeguarding and specialist support when needed.
Minimum expectations for organisations including:
We will promote a culture in which everyone understands their role in preventing violence and harassment.
Through awareness, education and training, we will equip staff, volunteers, partners and leaders with the confidence to:
Practical tools to help people:
Advice to help leaders:
Resources that support men and boys to:
Simple prompts and examples to support confident, respectful conversations when harmful language or behaviour occurs.
Tailored materials to help local groups create safe, inclusive spaces and respond appropriately to concerns.
We recognise that preventing violence against women and girls is everyone’s responsibility.
We will:
Practical guidance to help individuals to:
Clear advice on how to recognise unsafe or inappropriate behaviour and intervene safely, directly or indirectly.
Resources that encourage men and boys to:
Prompts and materials to support open, respectful discussions about:
We will promote clear, accessible and trusted reporting pathways. We will encourage anyone who experiences, witnesses or becomes aware of inappropriate behaviour to:
We will recognise that reporting is a personal decision and that responses should be:
A digital leaflet which highlights clear reporting and safeguarding pathways, including anonymous options. It explains how early reporting can help prevent further harm.
We will hold ourselves accountable for creating safer environments. We make sure that responsibility for safety is understood and demonstrated at all levels by regularly reviewing our:
An audit tool with practical ways to review:
There will be a focus on:
We will adopt a victim-centred approach that prioritises:
We will:
Containing simple step-by-step prompts for frontline staff on:
Use our online form to sign up.
Sign up to the Women and Girls Safety Charter
It is free to sign up to the charter.
If you have any questions about the charter, contact Bracknell Forest Community Safety at community.safety@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
