Basildon Borough Council is hosting an online meeting on February 23, 2026, to help women in Basildon, Essex, share their views on safety and support services. The forum will focus on issues like financial abuse and controlling behaviour to help the council decide how to protect women and girls across the community.
The meeting follows a decision on February 12, 2026, where the council approved a £70,000 investment to improve safety for women. This package includes £25,000 for a new Fight Back Fund, which will pay for legal advice and safe travel for those escaping abusive situations.
Another £45,000 is being spent on the Make Space for Girls project to make town centre areas feel safer based on ideas from local young women. These steps come after Basildon Borough Council reported more than 7,000 violent and sexual offences in the borough over the last year, with more than 300 incidents in December 2025 alone.
Councillor Emma Callaghan, who leads the meeting, wants women who live, work, or study in the area to help target these new funds where they are needed most. The council is also working with local businesses like the Eastgate Centre and Hollywood Bowl, which have signed a charter to help create safe spaces for residents.
The session begins at 7:00 pm and provides a chance for attendees to hear about the support currently available to them. Anyone interested in joining the discussion can find more details on the council’s social media pages.
