Bringing boys into the conversation about Violence against Women and Girls
18.03.26 - Merseyside
Boys from six Merseyside schools have today (Thursday 19 March) come together for an event focused on educating young people about Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Merseyside Police and LFC Foundation join forces to host the VAWG education event which follows on from an all-girls event held last week and forms part of a month‑long campaign in which all secondary school students across Merseyside receive VAWG presentations as part of their PHSE lessons.
Opened by the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, the event was created by Merseyside Police's Safer Schools Co‑ordinator Faye Smith. Its aim is to highlight the work being done to tackle VAWG and encourage the boys to be allies and speak up with confidence.
Throughout the day, attendees took part in workshops exploring healthy relationships, consent, managing anger, peer pressure and influence, as well as bystander awareness and online behaviour.
Workshops were delivered by Merseyside Police's Cyber Team, Sam Padmore and Positive Pathways, Guests including boxer Tony Bellew and actor Jack McMullen from 'This City is Ours,' alongside producers Simon Maloney and Nathan Juckes joined the boys for a Q&A session.
Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Boys and young men have a crucial role to play in creating a safer future for women and girls.
“Today’s event is about giving them the chance to have open, honest conversations about respect, healthy relationships and the impact their choices can make — both online and in person.
“By giving boys the space to think, to talk and to challenge harmful behaviour, we’re helping them become part of the solution. These early conversations are how we prevent harmful attitudes from taking root and build a culture where women and girls not only feel safer but are safer.
“I’m extremely grateful to our Safer Schools team and all the partners who helped deliver this important session. Most of all, I want to thank the young people taking part — their willingness to listen, learn and lead is how real change begins.”
Faye Smith, Safer Schools Co‑ordinator at Merseyside Police, said: “Today’s event is part of a month‑long focus in schools across Merseyside, that encourages open conversations with young people about Violence Against Women and Girls.
“The work we do with boys is incredibly important, as these conversations help them understand what is and isn’t acceptable, particularly around abusive, misogynistic or harmful behaviours.
“We have a real opportunity to make a difference, and events like this are about helping boys recognise the role they can play as allies, calling out harmful attitudes, respecting others, and helping create safer spaces for women and girls.”
Matt Parish, CEO of LFC Foundation said: “Our partnership with Merseyside Police continues to go from strength to strength and it’s so important to help educate boys as well as girls about the issues surrounding violence against Women and Girls.
“Our Youth Interventions team continue to work closely with young people throughout the Liverpool City Region to help them talk openly about this topic, giving them the belief to challenge and support one another.”
