Council to look at how to support young women’s safety initiatives
23/10/2025
Young women are often lacking political representation, financial resources and institutional backing
Actions to support improving young women’s safety in the Cherwell district will now be considered by Cherwell District Council’s Executive, following a proposal by Councillor Dr Kerrie Thornhill at a full council meeting earlier this week.
She told councillors that young women leaders in the district had already come together to work towards putting a stop to gender-based violence and harassment.
Looking at areas of focus in the Local Plan, Councillor Dr Thornhill’s proposal urged the council to engage with young women working in the night-time economy when implementing ideas in this area.
The motion also sought to encourage local businesses and other private sector stakeholders to support and sponsor young women’s community initiatives for safety, with the council identifying low cost out-of-use sites that are suitable for proposals from women-led initiatives for community benefit.
Councillor Dr Thornhill told the meeting: “Most of the young (and by young I mean Gen Z) women I have spoken to are experts on their own needs. They have brilliant ideas for making life better for everyone in our spaces after dark.
“What they are often missing is political representation, financial resources and institutional backing to ensure their ideas can get up and running successfully. This motion therefore proposes real support to young women leaders across Cherwell district.”
The motion will now be considered by the council’s Executive, with Councillor Dr Thornhill invited to discuss the potential next steps the council could take.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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