Recent figures from the Metropolitan Police show sexual offences in Kingston-upon-Thames have risen by 13%.
Across London, police recordedover 26,000 sexual offences in a single year, with women accounting for around 84% of victims.
As concerns grow over rising reports of violence against women and girls (VAWG) across Kingston, students at Kingston University are taking action.
A VAWG hub has been created in a bid to raise awareness, encouraging open conversation and connecting survivors with support services.
The initiative, organised by the university’s Psychology Society, will culminate in an Awards Night event on the 21 March at Kingsgate Church where a collaborative mural created by students will be unveiled. The artwork, developed over several weeks, reflects themes of resilience, solidarity and empowerment.
Silent No More, led by local charity Voices of Hope, is a project that encourages survivors to share their experiences publicly to challenge stigma and promote healing.
This event was organised by KU student, Iman Shahid, who is doing a placement year with Silent No More. Describing the mural to The River, she said: “The mural is a woman coming out of a tree. This is symbolic because a lot of women kind of grow and heal again after they’ve endured such a journey and experience.”
The mural is being created by students and staff who come together to share experiences. This was achieved through prompts like “what helped you or someone you know survive, grow or stand again.”
When asked why this event was needed in Kingston, Shahid said; “I am aware that VAWG is happening and it happens a lot in London, and I think the issue is that it’s not spoken about as much. The statistics are still there, especially in university campuses.”
Paulina Lipiec, the president of the psychology society at Kingston University, said: “There are so many kinds of abuse that happen towards women. An example of this is coercive control. When we think about a kind of coercive control, it’s perceived as “Oh, but he just loves you… He just wants the best for you…”
“But at what point do we draw the line? That’s why we are doing this to help girls spot that kind of behaviour.”