Belfast sports leaders join forces to help end violence against women and girls

Leading figures in local sport will come together at the Titanic Hotel this Sunday 23 March (12pm-5pm) to hear about the role they can play in helping women and girls feel, and be, safe everywhere.

The ‘It’s a Team Effort’ conference has been organised by Belfast City Council as part of its response to the Northern Ireland Executive’s seven-year Strategic Framework, led by the Executive Office, to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

Over 100 coaches and volunteers from Belfast-based sports clubs and governing bodies will attend workshops and panel discussions, focusing on practical steps to engage men and boys in talking about, and challenging, negative behaviours.

Places at the event, organised with support from Sport NI and NI Sports Forum, are very limited. Clubs interested in taking part can email endviolence@belfastcity.gov.uk to register their interest.

“This conference focuses on the vital role of men and boys in supporting efforts to end violence against women and girls, particularly in areas of life like sport, where we know stereotypical attitudes and behaviours can, and do, still persist,” said Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray.

“Sunday’s line-up offers hands-on support which coaches and volunteers can take away and put into practice straight away in their own settings, as well as providing context and understanding to what is now a priority for all of us, as a society, to tackle.”

The conference will be hosted by BBC sports presenter Stephen Watson. Among the speakers is author Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard who lost his own sister to a violent partner and now speaks to men and boys on how they can become allies to women and girls.

Drawing upon his developmental programme Where Are the Men?, he will encourage guests to challenge unhelpful and potentially harmful ideas of masculinity in both the changing room and the clubhouse.

“I believe in reflecting on the challenges I and my family have faced in order to turn them into learning and development opportunities for others through my work,” he said.

“My testicular cancer, my years as an angry young man, both of my workplace bullying experiences and my sister Sarah’s death have all shaped my purpose and topic areas across a wide range of audiences.

“I’m looking forward to Sunday’s event and sharing my experiences with others so they can become advocates for women and girls, both on and off the field.”

Criminal behavioural analyst and former police detective Laura Richards will deliver the event’s keynote speech, via video, explaining how to assess risk in everyday settings. Now also a successful podcast host, she will offer insights from her career and highlight signs of coercive control and domestic abuse.

Also delivering workshops are:

Chris McAlister, a former 400m hurdles athlete and now Head of Operations with Kyniska Advocacy, who will provide advice for clubs on improving safeguarding, including creating practical toolkits and policies to protect and support both male and female members.
Detective Chief Superintendent Lindsay Fisher, the PSNI’s lead for domestic abuse, violence against women and girls and serious sexual offences, who will speak about the current Power to Change campaign, focusing on challenging male behaviours to women in everyday situations. She will also outline her contribution towards landmark changes in legislation to better protect victims of domestic and sexual abuse and hold perpetrators to account.
Professor Louise Crowley from University College, Cork who will talk about her experiences of developing the campus-wide Active Bystander Intervention programme to bring about a ‘new normal’ of safety and respect. She has also developed All Right, All Night, a campaign encouraging 16 to 24-year-olds to stand up, speak out and stay safe when socialising.
Tahnee McCorry, CEO of White Ribbon NI, who will share her experience of delivering the organisation’s Listen, Learn, Lead programme to prisons, sports teams, governing bodies and other male-dominated organisations.

Further information on the It’s a Team Effort conference is on the council website at belfastcity.gov.uk/endviolence