Women gather in Sleaford to discuss safety after sexual assault
“You do have the right to walk alone and you do have the right to feel safe"
A meeting's taken place to look at ways to improve women's safety in Sleaford.
It's after reports a woman in her 20s was sexually assaulted in Mareham Pastures in July.
A march by Reclaim the Night was held shortly after.
Now a monthly women's safety group has been created.
“There was a particular event in May last year where I was afraid and I did report it"
Jade Hope organised the meeting.
"I’ve had someone cat call me, maybe they wanted me to take it as a compliment, instead it just made me quite intimidated and actually a little bit afraid.
"But I won’t let it stop me from being proactive in helping everybody to feel safe in the community that we live in.
"I want to raise my children here, a lot of my friends have children in this town, I want them to feel safe, I want them to go to the park without fear of sexual harassment.
"I want my friends to be able to walk home and feel safe and to think that they couldn’t do that really upset me."
She has this message for people who feel afraid.
“You do have the right to walk alone and you do have the right to feel safe, but unfortunately that’s not something that always happens, we don’t always feel safe.
"Talk to people, talk to your friends, talk to your family, raise your concerns and get support if you need it."
If men are wanting to help, she has this advice.
"Just put yourself in somebody else's shoes.
"Imagine you're a woman walking on your own, how would it make you feel?
"That's the best way I'd put the question to someone if I was having a discussion with a man about it.
"But sometimes I guess we all get carried away and if it is meant to be harmless then we don't hold it against you of course, but just try to put yourself in somebody else's position."