Women across Lincoln have been protesting against female harassment after the recent murder of Sarah Everard.
Sarah Everard, 33, was found dead in woodlands in Kent after going missing while walking home alone in Clapham, London, on March 3.
Serving Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens, has been arrested on suspicion of her kidnap and murder, and will face trial this autumn.
University Library Bridge has been covered with tributes. | Photo: The Lincolnite
It has prompted a wider national debate about the treatment of women and their safety in day-to-day life.
In Lincoln, a memorial for Sarah Everard has been put up on University Library Bridge, with flowers and a picture of Sarah, as well as other women who lost their lives in similar circumstances.
The memorial for Sarah Everard went up on Tuesday. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Students didn’t stop there, though. Surrounding the memorial are chalk etchings of solidarity to women, with phrases such as “equality for all” and “start the conversation” written on the ground.
Calls for change. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Chalk markings can also be found outside the Engine Shed and the LPAC, where students are making their voices heard with damning statistics and slogans on the public benches.
The benches have been marked with chalk to show solidarity to all women. | Photo: The Lincolnite
People were seen drawing on the benches and encouraging others to get involved and have their say with the chalk.
A poignant message delivered by University of Lincoln students. | Photo: The Lincolnite
This will all culminate in an online vigil, hosted by the University of Lincoln and the Students’ Union, at 7pm on Tuesday, March 16.
It will be a closed event designed only for students and staff at the university to honour Sarah Everard and give voices to women who feel marginalised.
Ceri Leech took to the streets of Lincoln (with a little help from friends) to spread the word. | Photo: Ceri Leech
Over the weekend, a virtual protest was held in Lincoln, organised by three women from the city who wanted to share their story.
They went to areas in Lincoln where they had experienced sexual harassment, armed with signs and posters, to Reclaim These Streets, as the event is named.
Over 200 people attended virtually via the Facebook page, and the organisers are now planning a march on June 21, when all lockdown restrictions are due to be lifted.
First-hand experiences
The Lincolnite spoke to Ceri Leech, a 23-year-old who is one of the organisers behind Reclaim These Streets, an online protest where women could share their experiences of harassment and abuse.
Anais Higgs is another of the event’s organisers. | Photo: Ceri Leech
This is Ceri’s story: “Not long after I’d returned to Lincoln after university, I was leaving the Scene when a guy approached me with all of his friends and tried to get me to go home with them.
“I said no, but unfortunately they did not take no for an answer, I ended up getting beaten up by the whole group of guys and I was genuinely scared something worse was going to happen.
“Luckily a passer by saw and tried to stop it from happening. He ended up getting hurt as well but luckily this then scared them off.
“The reason I choose to tell this story more than the countless others I have, it’s not because it’s the worst story I have, or the most recent story I have; but because it’s the most believable, so I’m not as afraid to talk about it.”
Another of the Reclaim These Streets organisers, Keeley Valvona, gave her harrowing account of being the victim of harassment.
Keeley Valvona and her dog took to the streets of Lincoln as part of the protest. | Photo: Ceri Leech
This is Keeley’s story: “I was walking home from Superbull by myself in a skirt and heels and a man approached me asking me where I was going and if I was going to my house.
“I didn’t answer him and he then followed me, reached out and tried to grab my waist and pull my skirt up.
“I managed to get away and sprinted home (in heels). He was alone and looked like he was waiting for someone vulnerable to walk past.
“After going to the police I found out it had happened to other girls in the same area and by the description it was the same man.”
Tributes to other women who lost their lives also feature on the memorial. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Ceri said that the scary reality of stories like these is that all girls can relate to them, so much so that often women will bond over their difficult experiences.
She continued: “Every single girl I know has a story like this, and it’s sad but true, that sharing experiences like these is how a lot of girls bond and become friends.
“To all the men who think it’s okay to be silent because you’re “not part of the issue”. Look at where your silence has got us so far.
“It’s not enough to do nothing, have those uncomfortable conversations, ask the women in your life what you can do to help make them and other women feel safer, call out your friends for their behaviours. Do better.”
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Councils in Lincolnshire are looking to set up a crowdfunding scheme to help raise money for local projects and community-based initiatives.
Boston Borough, East Lindsey and South Holland District Council, as the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, will invest an initial combined £34,000 into setting up the scheme with Spacehive.
If approved Boston and ELDC would contribute a further £30,000 to match-fund healthy community-based projects in their respective district. It is not yet clear if SHDC would do the same.
Boston’s cabinet and ELDC’s executive board will both discuss the plans at meetings next week, while SHDC’s own cabinet will vote later this month.
Reports before ELDC and Boston said: “Civic crowdfunding is becoming increasing popular due the numerous economic and social benefits it can deliver.
“Many local authorities across England have successfully used crowdfunding platforms to engage with local residents and businesses to develop projects and seek financial support group on-line pledges to match local authority contributions.”
They said crowdfunding in other areas showed a 250-300% return on investment for the community.
As part of the initiative the partnership would set up a Spacehive page later this year listing what funds are available and how much they are willing to match-fund.
Those organising community-based initiatives and proposals would set up their own project pages separately, including a breakdown of their budgets and targets.
Spacehive would verify the bids to ensure clear budgets and permissions are in place.
The projects could then pitch to the council, and other organisations such as the National Lottery, through the site. Projects can also be backed by general members of the public.
Authorities will monitor the project’s progress before making a decision.
More than 40 local authorities use Spacehive, including Cotswolds District Council.
A recently-100% funded project included a £21,997 amphitheatre in Chipping Campden, which the council gave £10,000.
Lincoln’s pre-fab housing which has stood since the Second World War should be pulled down when the opportunity arises, a councillor has said.
Roughly 100 homes from the 1940s are still standing around the Outer Circle Drive area.
They were built to last around 20 years during the post-war housing shortage using pre-fabricated steel.
The planning committee voted this week to demolish one which had become “unfit for habitation”, and Councillor Edmund Strengiel called for others to follow when possible.
“It’s long overdue for prefab houses to be knocked down. These houses should only have lasted 20 years, although some may still be comfortable and liveable,” he told the meeting.
One pre-fab is deemed to be ‘unfit for habitation’ | Image: City of Lincoln Council
“In my hometown, many of these were demolished in the 1970s, and something much better was put in their place. We could have lovely bungalows here.”
He added: “I have no doubt people still want to live in them, and I’m not suggesting that anyone should be forced to move out if they don’t want to.
“To be fair to the council, money isn’t readily available. It would probably be a case of taking them down and replacing them one by one.
“But if the funds are there and the residents are happy, it is time for the council’s housing team to make that decision.”
Around 157,000 homes were constructed around the country after the war, although not many are still standing.
There are around 100 pre-fabs from the 1940s around Outer Circle Drive in Lincoln | Photo: City of Lincoln Council
The bungalow on Outer Circle Drive had fallen into disrepair after the tenant refused improvement works on several occasions.
It was declared void in March 2020 following a survey.
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