Commissioner visits Preston project helping women and girls feel safe

The Commissioner met with the partners behind the programme to hear first-hand how it’s helping to prevent crime and support those most at risk.

Backed by the Commissioner’s Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Fund, which reinvests proceeds of crime into Lancashire, and delivered in collaboration with Preston CSP, the project equips women, girls, and vulnerable groups with practical personal safety skills, builds confidence, and provides trauma-informed support.

With the support of Hope Prevails Preston, Lancashire Women, Lancashire Police and The Foxton Centre, it delivers workshops and courses to help participants stay safe and manage risk.

Sessions include personal safety training, self-defence, and targeted support for young women and those experiencing issues such as homelessness, exploitation or trauma.

The project, which is free to access, is expected to support up to 240 people in its first six months.

Following the visit, Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said:

“We know that fear of crime, particularly violence against women and girls, has a real impact on people’s lives. Projects like this are vital in helping people feel safer, more confident, and better equipped to protect themselves.

“By reinvesting money taken from criminals back into Lancashire, we are supporting initiatives that prevent harm before it happens and make a real difference locally.

“It’s been great to meet partners involved in this project today and to get live demonstration of the work they deliver. Their passion is clear to see and I am confident that this initiative will have a real and lasting impact on the women and girls they work with.

“Working with partners who understand their communities means we can deliver targeted and tailored activity to help keep people safe.”

Gemma Roberts, CEO at Hope Prevails Preston added:

“We are incredibly proud to be leading the Safe to Soar programme and working alongside such committed partners to deliver vital preventative support for women and girls across Preston. This initiative is about more than immediate safety, it’s about empowering individuals with the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to feel safer in their relationships, in their homes, and in their communities.

“Prevention is key to creating long-term change. By addressing risk early and equipping women and girls with practical tools and trauma-informed support, we can help reduce harm before it occurs and build stronger, safer communities for everyone.

“This work would not be possible without a truly collaborative, multi-agency approach. By bringing together organisations with different expertise and reach, we are able to connect with far more women and girls, ensuring that support is accessible, inclusive and impactful. We are extremely grateful to the PCC and the CSP for their support of this project. We are hopeful that Safe to Soar will become a sustained, long-term programme that continues to grow and evolve.”

Councillor Connor Dwyer, Cabinet Member for Parks and Community Safety at Preston City Council said:

“I am delighted that Safe to Soar is being offered to women and girls in Preston. This pioneering initiative will provide practical benefits, helping them feel safer and more confident in everyday situations.

“Preston City Council and the Community Safety Partnership are committed to preventing violence against women and girls. Safe to Soar forms an important part of our partnership approach to tackling this issue, which has a harmful impact on individuals and communities across Preston.”

Any individuals or organisations who would like to work with Hope Prevails and support future delivery, whether by becoming a facilitator, partnering, or offering space to host sessions you can contact them at enquiries@hopeprevails.org.uk.

You can also find out more about the Commissioner’s Community Fund at lancashire-pcc.gov.uk/grant-funding