Belfast City Council has launched a comprehensive series of events for March to support the Northern Ireland Executive's Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

The initiative combines public engagement, sector-specific training, and a significant financial boost for local community projects.

The programme begins this Sunday, 8 March, with 'One Step Louder', a family fun day at Girdwood Community Hub to mark International Women's Day. The event will feature activities alongside information stalls highlighting local support services for women and families. Other engagement sessions include the 'Her Safety, Our Responsibility' panel discussion at Walkway Community Centre on Friday, 27 March, and targeted workshops for trainees in the hairdressing and beauty industry in South Belfast on 9, 10, and 12 March.

The Council is also extending its outreach to specific sectors including sports, arts, and urban planning. Building on last year's 'It's a Team Effort' conference, sports clubs can attend a safeguarding workshop at Olympia Leisure Centre on Tuesday, 24 March. Sessions scheduled for 11 and 27 March will engage the arts sector, while a workshop on 31 March will focus on those designing public and outdoor spaces to ensure they are safer for women and girls. In tandem with these events, a further £340,000 has been allocated to 23 community projects through the Local Change Fund. This brings the total number of initiatives supported to 50, ranging from theatre productions and school programmes to specialized training for minority ethnic and LGBTQIA+ communities. Additionally, free training is being offered to help community organisations identify signs of domestic abuse and coercive control.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, said: "Our council is proud to support the NI Executive with this really crucial piece of work and to use our extensive community networks to support organisations in designing solutions and interventions tailored to the individual needs of local communities. This is our second year of delivering a programme of area and sector-specific events, alongside targeted training for the community sector, and I'm pleased to see a wide variety of activities planned to engage with the public, showcase the great work already being done and encourage us all to speak up."

The Lord Mayor noted that over 90% of attendees from previous sessions reported increased confidence in supporting others. A dedicated event will also take place at the MAC on 31 March, in partnership with Queen's University, to discuss engaging men and boys in tackling the behaviours that contribute to violence.

Details of all upcoming events, workshops and training available are on the council's website at belfastcity.gov.uk/endviolence