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In 2021, you provided feedback as part of LLDC’s consultation on the safety of women and girls on and around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (the Legacy Corporation area).

These comments were carefully analysed by an independent external agency called Arup, which published its consultation report in May 2022.

As we reported to you then, your comments allowed us to help understand the experience of those who use the Park, identify any particular areas of concern and allow us to make necessary interventions that would improve the equality of space for women and girls - creating a safer and more inclusive environment for people of all ages and needs.

Since the publication of the consultation report we have been working hard internally, and in collaboration with our stakeholders, to consider and action the recommendations made.

Today, we wanted to update you on some of the works in train.

On Wednesday, organisations across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park came together to launch a Women and Girls’ Safety Charter, enshrining their pledge to promote and protect the safety of women on the Park and across the wider LLDC area.

Signatories to the charter include the London Boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest; London Stadium; GLL; Lee Valley Regional Park Authority; East Village; Here East; Canal and River Trust; Get Living; the Metropolitan Police and Westfield.

These organisations agree to:

• Demonstrate to staff and customers that their organisation takes women’s safety seriously.

• Nominate a champion in their organisation who actively promotes women and girls’ safety.

• Respond constructively to consultation undertaken by LLDC and locally.

• Design, plan and build public realm with Women’s Safety at the forefront.

• Actively manage public spaces with Women’s Safety in mind.

• Reassure customers and staff that so far as we know their area is safe, and ensure they know what to do if they experience harassment when working, going out or travelling.

• Encourage reporting by victims and bystanders in their communications.

• Train staff to ensure that all women who report concerns are believed and all reports are recorded and actioned.

• Train staff on how to respond and, if necessary, intervene if women report feeling unsafe.

You can read more about the event and the charter here.

In other news, as local planning authority, we are developing the UK’s first Gender Inclusive Urban Design Guidance, with a consultation to be launched shortly. The aim is that this will offer urban professionals some practical guidance on how development schemes and urban interventions can support a gender inclusive urban environment through design and management. Ultimately, we hope this guidance can act as a benchmark for wider London-based urban professionals who can use it throughout the project lifecycle to ensure their decision-making, design, and delivery of development, infrastructure, and placemaking proposals explicitly consider the needs of women, girls and gender diverse people.

These are just two of the actions we are taking to protect and improve the safety of women and girls in our area, and we look forward to updating you as this work continues.

In future, we will be sharing updates on our women’s safety work via a dedicated mail-out. If you’d like to receive these communications, please sign up here.

Last year you provided feedback as part of LLDC’s consultation on the safety of women and girls on and around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (the Legacy Corporation area).

Following this, your comments have been carefully analysed by an independent external agency called Arup.

Arup’s consultation analysis identified a number of key themes for why a respondent reported feeling unsafe in a specific area. These centred around lighting provision; intimidation, harassment and groups of men; anti-social behaviour and crime; feelings of isolation and fear; and management, up-keep and litter.

We’re pleased to share that this report has been published and can be found here .

A series of recommendations have been made to address these concerns and the LLDC project team are working in collaboration with Arup to map out the next steps for delivering the required interventions.

Some of these recommendations will take longer to deliver, while some can be actioned in the short-term or are already being acted upon through the work of LLDC and its partners. There are also a number of recommendations that fall outside of LLDC’s remit and where this is the case, we have committed to working in partnership with relevant authorities to communicate these and encourage action to be taken.

This report is a crucial milestone in LLDC’s work to improve the safety of women and girls. Improving the experience of women and girls is beneficial for everyone living, working or visiting the Legacy Corporation area and that is why it is so important we now spend time mapping out how and when required interventions can be delivered - and by who – so that we can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

To be kept informed as this work progresses, please sign up HERE

Thank you for your feedback on LLDC’s consultation on the safety of Women and Girls in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park/Legacy Corporation Area.

Today is White Ribbon Day – an international awareness day calling for communities, organisations and people to come together and say ‘no’ to male violence against women and girls.

In solidarity with the campaign, London Stadium has lit up with a message of support on its external screen – one of the largest digital screens in Europe.

We hope that this will encourage more people to have a conversation about White Ribbon Day means and why it is so important.

To find out more about the campaign and the White Ribbon Promise visit: https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/what-we-do and join the conversation on social media using the hashtags #WhiteRibbon #AllMenCan and #MakeThePromise.

From today, until Human Rights Day on Friday 10 December, are the 16 Days of Action – with men everywhere asked to make the promise to “never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women”.

There is a lot of activity planned in our local boroughs, including a full programme of events from London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Keep an eye on their Twitter account here for more details.

We’d also like to share that we have extended our consultation deadline until 13 December , for feedback on the safety of women and girls across the Legacy Corporation area. Please continue to share your feedback, and share this consultation with any friends, family or colleagues who might also want to share their views.

As ever, if you have any questions or have any other comments you’d like to offer, please email us at womens-safety@londonlegacy.co.uk

Thank you again for sharing your comments with us.

Thank you for your feedback on LLDC’s consultation on the Safety of Women and Girls in the Legacy Corporation Area. Your comments will help us understand the experience of those who use public space within the Legacy Corporation area, identify areas of concern and allow us to make necessary interventions to improve the safety of all Park users.

Over the longer-term, your feedback will also help us shape future policy, and influence how we plan and develop the Legacy Corporation area. This will help us improve equality of space for women and girls - making a better and more inclusive place for people of all ages and needs.

The more information we receive, the better understanding we will have, so please do share this consultation with any friends, family or colleagues who you think might also want to share their views.

We also wanted to take this opportunity to share our new personal safety guide. This guide collates useful information such as who to call if you have a safety concern on the Park, the quickest lit routes to stations and what to do if you are lost.

A digital version of this guide can be found on our website here , with hard copies available from our Information Point , located at the IQL Pavilion, as well as in venues around the Park.

If you have any questions or have any other comments you’d like to share with us, please email us at womens-safety@londonlegacy.co.uk

Thank you again for sharing your comments with us.