The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Task and Finish Group met to discuss its findings and recommendations following a review into the prevention of VAWG in Wandsworth. The group's report outlines feedback from various stakeholders and proposes actions to enhance prevention efforts.

Report on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prevention

The main item scheduled for discussion was the report by the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Task and Finish Group, detailing the findings and recommendations of its review into the prevention of VAWG in Wandsworth. The group was established in August 2025 with the aim of identifying system-wide opportunities for early intervention and developing practical, long-term preventative actions.

The report highlights that over 355 individuals across Wandsworth participated in the review over four months, including young people, parents, survivors, frontline workers, and community-led organisations. Feedback was gathered through meetings, surveys, and workshops.

Five recurring themes emerged from the stakeholder engagement:

• Young people's desire for consistent conversations: Participants emphasised that harmful attitudes begin early and are shaped by peer culture, social media, and everyday environments. There was a shared concern that education on relationships and violence can feel like a one-off event, limiting its ability to shift norms. Young people expressed a desire for more explicit conversations about misogyny and VAWG, and for adults to create safe spaces for these discussions.
• The impact of online spaces: Concerns were raised about how online spaces mean young people experience the world alone, not together. The personalised nature of social media feeds, shaped by algorithms, means individuals may be exposed to different content without shared reference points for discussion and challenge. This can make it harder for young people to discern what is acceptable or normal, and harmful ideas can go unchallenged.
• Young people's value of belonging: Participants spoke about the importance of having accessible, affordable activities after school where they feel welcome and included. These activities were seen as crucial for reducing unstructured time often spent on phones and for building confidence and a sense of belonging.
• Prevention's visibility and connectivity: While Wandsworth has a range of prevention and early intervention activities across schools, health, housing, and the community sector, many felt these interventions are not always well-known, consistently understood, or clearly connected. Teachers and school leaders highlighted challenges in understanding and sustaining support for children affected by domestic abuse.
• Unequal experiences of prevention: It was noted that violence against women and girls is not experienced equally, and some individuals face additional barriers to prevention, early help, and support. This includes women with no recourse to public funds, LGBTQ+ young people, and those experiencing 'Honour'-Based Abuse (HBA). The report stresses the need for culturally appropriate and inclusive approaches.

The report also detailed current system responses in key areas, including a partnership approach to tackling child sexual exploitation, a public health survey with young people, a young people's sexual harassment survey, and initiatives within Housing services to address domestic abuse.

The Task and Finish Group proposed three key recommendations for consideration by the Children's Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, with the aim of submitting them to Cabinet for its consideration on 23rd February 2026:

1. To enhance the reach and visibility of Wandsworth's existing VAWG prevention offer in schools, exploring options to deliver interventions co-produced with young people and aligned with best practice.
2. To ensure a robust systems approach across statutory agencies, voluntary and community organisations, and communities, for VAWG prevention and early identification by increasing visibility and sharing of best practice.
3. To maintain ongoing engagement with survivors, including a renewed focus on seldom-heard communities, to ensure their voices inform the continuous improvement of service delivery and support.

The report noted that there are no direct financial implications arising from these recommendations, and they could be met from existing approved budgets. Following endorsement by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and Cabinet, a VAWG Strategic Partnership will compile an Action Plan for implementation.