Female-led project participants meet Rover Ladies team

Female-led project participants meet Rover Ladies team

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s What About Us? group met the Blackburn Rovers Ladies team at Ewood Park last Sunday ahead of their entertaining 1-1 draw against Southampton.

What About Us? is a female-led project that aims to promote women’s safety in Blackburn with Darwen. The group is made up of girls aged 14-19, who are passionate about making a difference in their local community. The group met with Blackburn Rovers Ladies squad and manager to speak What About Us?, What it represents and handed out panic alarms.

“It was such an amazing experience to meet Gemma and the team.

“It means so much because Rovers Ladies are young women and there’s a good chance many of them would’ve had experience of harassment to some extent. So, their support gives us a sense of female solidarity- we’re in this together and it’s nice to know that we’re supported by people who understand what we’re talking about.

“First we went on the pitch and took pictures with some of the Blackburn Rovers Ladies players, the manager and Rover the Dog. We held the Rovers flag as the players walked on to the pitch at kick-off. We feel so honoured to have had this opportunity as we know few people get to come out to the pitch.

“We’re proud of the hard work all of us girls and Ilyas and the staff have put in. The fact that What About Us has got lots of people talking just gives us that reassurance that what we’re doing will have a positive impact in the community – and that’s one of our main goals.”

Mary and Iqra, participants of What About Us?

“It was inspiring to meet the young group of women on Sunday. Their dedication to their work is brilliant and can really help to change lives. 

“We are looking forward to having the group down to one of our training sessions soon for them to meet the players and to deliver a presentation about the work they are doing to raise awareness within our team.”

Gemma Donnelly, BRFC Ladies manager

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) has been a pertinent issue for a long time. However, within the last year, society has witnessed this becoming an increasingly worrying problem. Everyone should feel safe within their local community, regardless of their gender.
 
The What About Us? project’s main aim is to create a safer environment for women and girls within our local area. Blackburn Rovers Community Trust want women and girls to feel safe and comfortable walking around their communities, regardless of the time of day.
 
Friday 25th November marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which aims to provide support to women and girls around the world by attempting to prevent and eliminate violence, which will be followed by a further 15 days of activism culminating on 10th December’s International Human Rights Day.

The 2022 theme is UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls, with Blackburn Rovers and BRCT proud to support the day of action.