Deputy PCC attends Bedfordshire’s first Hope Hack to tackle male violence against women and girls

Hosted at Luton Town Football Club and led by the Hope Collective, the event was supported by Bedfordshire Police and the Bedfordshire Violence and Exploitation Prevention Partnership (VEPP).

During the event, young people aged between 13 and 17 took part in collaborative workshops to develop innovative ideas and covered topics such as gender stereotypes, harmful norms, being an active bystander, social media, influencers, consent, respect, and online safety.

The young people presented their solutions to a Dragons’ Den-style panel, and these proposals will now be used to inform local strategies and initiatives, helping to create safer, stronger communities across Bedfordshire.
The event also featured inspirational talks from Usman Ahmed, Youth Management Group Co-Ordinator at the Hope Collective, Jenni Steele, the founder of Project YANA CIC, and professional boxer Tysie Gallagher, alongside performances from the Next Generation Youth Theatre and musician Lavz. The day also included a tour of the football club.

Detective Chief Superintendent Zara Brown said: ““The Hope Hack is a vital platform for young people to have their voices heard and their ideas valued. By bringing together youth and decision-makers, we’re not just talking about change, we’re enabling it.

“These conversations and solutions will help shape safer, stronger communities and demonstrate the incredible potential of young people to lead positive change. It was an absolute honour to be at the very first Hope Hack in Bedfordshire especially as we are about to launch our 16 Days of Action campaign at the end of this month which focuses on the fight against gender-based violence.”

Umme Ali, Bedfordshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: “It was great to be a part of the day talking to young people about male violence against women and girls.

“There was so much energy and creativity hearing directly from those involved on how we can tackle this issue. It’s really important that we put young people’s voices at the heart of what we do and that we work together to implement their ideas.”

Gemma Hoddle, Young Person and Community Engagement Officer at the VEPP, said: “Marking 25 years of hope inspired by the legacy of Damilola Taylor and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, it was a privilege to help organise Bedfordshire’s first Hope Hack focused on male violence against women and girls.

“The young community of Luton embraced the opportunity to co-create during this resolution-focused event, and Luton Town Football Club provided the perfect space to match their energy and bravery. Young people shared their views and developed solution-focused ideas with real passion. Through VEPP, we’re committed to turning these conversations into meaningful action to make our communities safer.”

Find out more about the Hope Collective