Belfast Sports Leaders Join Campaign To End Gendered Violence

Leading figures from local sports organisations will convene at the Titanic Hotel this Sunday, 23 March, to discuss their role in creating safer environments for women and girls.

The "It's a Team Effort" conference, organised by Belfast City Council, aims to address violence against women and girls, aligning with the Northern Ireland Executive's seven-year strategic framework.

Over 100 coaches and volunteers from Belfast-based sports clubs and governing bodies will participate in workshops and panel discussions, focusing on practical strategies to engage men and boys in challenging negative behaviours. The event, supported by Sport NI and the NI Sports Forum, has limited availability, with clubs encouraged to register their interest via email.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, stated: "This conference focuses on the vital role of men and boys in supporting efforts to end violence against women and girls, particularly in areas of life like sport, where we know stereotypical attitudes and behaviours can, and do, still persist. Sunday's line-up offers hands-on support which coaches and volunteers can take away and put into practice straight away in their own settings, as well as providing context and understanding to what is now a priority for all of us, as a society, to tackle.”

BBC sports presenter Stephen Watson will host the conference, featuring speakers such as author Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard, who will share his personal experience of losing his sister to domestic violence and discuss how men can become allies to women. "I'm looking forward to Sunday's event and sharing my experiences with others so they can become advocates for women and girls, both on and off the field,” Bernard said.

Keynote speaker Laura Richards, a criminal behavioural analyst and former police detective, will deliver a video presentation on risk assessment, coercive control, and domestic abuse.

Workshops will also be delivered by:

• Chris McAlister, a former 400m hurdles athlete and now Head of Operations with Kyniska Advocacy, who will provide advice for clubs on improving safeguarding, including creating practical toolkits and policies to protect and support both male and female members. 

• Detective Chief Superintendent Lindsay Fisher, the PSNI's lead for domestic abuse, violence against women and girls and serious sexual offences, who will speak about the current Power to Change campaign, focusing on challenging male behaviours to women in everyday situations. She will also outline her contribution towards landmark changes in legislation to better protect victims of domestic and sexual abuse and hold perpetrators to account.

• Professor Louise Crowley from University College, Cork who will talk about her experiences of developing the campus-wide Active Bystander Intervention programme to bring about a ‘new normal' of safety and respect. She has also developed All Right, All Night, a campaign encouraging 16 to 24-year-olds to stand up, speak out and stay safe when socialising.

• Tahnee McCorry, CEO of White Ribbon NI, who will share her experience of delivering the organisation's Listen, Learn, Lead programme to prisons, sports teams, governing bodies and other male-dominated organisations.

Further information on the It's a Team Effort conference is at belfastcity.gov.uk/endviolence