Businesses in Weymouth town centre are being encouraged to join a pilot scheme offering young women and girls a safe space if they are feeling unsafe or threatened outside of the family home.
The Pineapple Project, led by Dorset Council, with Dorset Police, Weymouth College and Targeted Sexual Health Service (part of Sexual Health Dorset), has been working with young women who have expressed a need for places of safety in their community.
More businesses are needed to offer their support.
These might be shops, entertainment venues or beauty establishments that can provide a safe haven for young women and girls in the town, for a few minutes, an hour or a little longer.
Community guardians in local businesses who sign up to help will receive full training and ongoing support.
Young women will be able to identify the community guardians by looking out for the discreet Pineapple Project logo – this could be displayed in a shop window, or the guardian may be wearing a badge.
The pilot project is focussing on young women as they are statistically more likely to have their security affected, for example by being approached, exploited or sexually assaulted (verbally or physically). However, the businesses will be provided with contacts for safeguarding issues related to everyone.
If you can support Weymouth’s girls and young women to feel safe, please get in touch with The Pineapple Project on 01305 762400 or send an email to [email protected].
Cllr Andrew Parry, Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, Dorset Council, said: “All girls and young women should feel safe in their communities and be able to seek the right support at the right time. Sadly, some experience and fear different forms intrusion, and sometimes violence, in public spaces.
“This can affect their whole life and they no longer feel safe to move around their local area, or even participate in school, work or their social life.
“It takes more than the professionals to safeguard young women and girls, and local businesses are the eyes and ears of our communities. If you feel you could offer a sanctuary, whether it is somewhere to just feel safe, or guide them to further support, please get in touch.”
David Parr, Dorset Police, said: ‘Dorset continues to be one of the safest counties in the country, but we also recognise that there may be occasions when people feel vulnerable and in need of help or support. We are pleased to be working with Dorset Council and supporting The Pineapple Project to create safe spaces for young women to access.’
Sue Dafter, Head of Student Services, Weymouth College said: “We are very keen to get behind the Pineapple Project at the college. Having listened to our students and through disclosures made during our February ‘Sexual Violence Awareness Week’ in conjunction with STARS Dorset, we are concerned about the amount of violence towards girls and young women in the area which goes unreported. It takes a village to raise a child, as the saying goes, and this is a perfect way to involve the wider business community in helping provide the support needed.”
If the project is successful, the team hopes to roll it out to other towns in Dorset.
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