The Mayor of London has launched a dedicated fund to gather the opinions of women and girls on how public spaces across the capital can be made safer, announcing targeted cash for audits, support services and online intervention programmes.
What the new strategy includes
Under the initiative, described by City Hall as the mayor’s “first-ever new fund” for this purpose, community research teams will work with women and girls to audit streets, transport hubs and other public places. Local authorities across London will be able to apply for a share of £15.6m, which forms part of a wider investment totalling more than £37m.
The programme builds on a trial run in 2024 when the mayor’s office and Transport for London collaborated with women and girls in five boroughs to map safety concerns and test how better design and local knowledge could inform policy.
Funding breakdown
| Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|
| Local authority fund (audits, community research) | £15.6m |
| Support for boys and young men (education, role-model initiatives) | £1m |
| Tackling technology-enabled abuse | £6m |
| Access to legal advice, counselling for VAWG victims | £6m |
| Support for those affected by child sexual exploitation and grooming | £2.4m |
City Hall says potential changes suggested by community teams could include measures such as better lighting and increased CCTV where appropriate, informed by the lived experience of women and girls who use those spaces every day.
Voices from City Hall and opposition
"I want to make every woman and girl in London safer – and feel safer – in our city,"
The mayor said the strategy was designed to respond to both traditional street-based threats and the growing risks posed online and at home. The wider package includes investment in programmes aimed at young men and boys to promote positive attitudes, and a pot to tackle technology-enabled abuse coming through phones and social media.
Opposition figures at City Hall have pressed the mayor to prioritise prevention and policing. Susan Hall, leader of the City Hall Conservative Group, said the focus should be on "preventing women becoming victims in the first place and more police funding." Her criticism reflects a wider debate about whether investment should prioritise physical measures in the built environment, early intervention and education, or increased frontline policing.
Local impact and expectations
On the ground in several boroughs I’ve spoken to women who welcomed the intention to involve them directly. One resident in a south London borough said the idea of local audits “makes sense” since people who use an area know where they do not feel safe. Others stressed that consultation must lead to tangible change rather than reports that sit on shelves.
City Hall says local authorities will be able to apply for funding to commission community research teams and run audits, but has not published detailed application criteria in the announcement. The pilot work with Transport for London in 2024, covering five boroughs, will inform how the scheme is rolled out at scale.
Broader context
The package responds to a complex picture of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in London and the influence of online misogyny. The mayor’s office highlights the need to adapt policies to “changing threats” including technology-enabled abuse, which the fund also aims to address.
- Community-led audits are central to the new fund.
- Local authorities can bid for a share of £15.6m.
- The overall programme includes targeted support and education totalling over £37m.
As the new measures are rolled out, the test will be whether the voices of women and girls translate into physical, legal and cultural changes that make London’s streets and public spaces safer and more welcoming. For many residents I spoke with, the crucial next step is clarity on how funds will be allocated and how quickly visible improvements will follow.
Reporting from London for WE NEWS.
