The first week of 16 Days of Activism did not come to play… and neither did Croydon.

Last week was full, powerful and honestly a reminder of why this work matters so much.

We started with the Croydon VAWG Walk, where a bench was unveiled in Queen’s Gardens to honour the women and girls whose lives were taken by male violence.

Then came the Croydon Council VAWG Conference, where we were invited as a headline speaker to talk about Croydon’s girls at risk, what we’re seeing on the ground, and how local investment is changing things.

During the conference, we highlighted:

• What we’re seeing on the ground through our commissioned Girls & Young Women’s Outreach Service

• The realities girls experience in friendships, early relationships and public spaces

• How our dual approach — outreach and Safe Space — is diverting girls from risk

• The impact of relatability, “big sister” energy and trauma-responsive practice

And the shift we’re seeing: girls identifying red flags, challenging harmful behaviours and guiding their friends towards healthier choices.

We also used the conference to officially launch our Safe Space on Wheels, which will be travelling into neighbouring boroughs, particularly Lambeth, where we’ve seen a rise in referrals.

This would not have been possible without the Social Investment Business Better Youth Fund and The Phoenix Way.

Croydon is choosing early intervention, not crisis — and girls are finally being seen.