"The safety of women and girls is the top issue in Basildon"
Basildon Women's Safety Forum has support from the council, police, fire service and NHS
The "top issue" in Basildon is the safety of women and girls says Councillor Emma Callaghan.
She chairs the Basildon Women's Safety Forum, which aims to amplify women's voices for safer communities.
She said: "Domestic abuse, physical violence, and verbal harassment are the leading reports to Basildon council."
"That is across every single ward." "From Pitsea to Billericay."
"The safety of women and girls is the top issue in Basildon."
"One in four women report feeling unsafe in our town centre, as well as across our five towns."
The Forum provides a dedicated space for women to share experiences and raise safety concerns.
Vice-chair Councillor Victoria Joseph said: "What we really hope to achieve is giving women a safe space to share their experiences, and then turning those voices into real change."
"I'd say it's not just about talking, it's about the action, which is what we are doing here at Basildon."
"We want our women to feel safer, but also genuinely listened to."
"We want to shift the conversation so that women's safety isn't treated as a niche issue, but as part of an everyday community wellbeing."
The forum is being hosted every two months.
Councillor Callaghan also said: "We are looking at housing as well as an issue."
"We know that a lot of single mums with children, fleeing domestic abuse and violence, are residents."
"Thankfully a lot of them have joined the first forum."
Councillor Joseph also said: "Safety also means tackling harassment, supporting the victims of abuse, and changing the culture around how women are treated."
"The Forum isn't just talk, it is also about action."
"We are building solutions together."
Their meeting included highlights of free personal safety resources, ongoing police support, and further community safety events.