Violence Against Women And Girls (VAWG) mural

The Violence Against Women And Girls (VAWG) mural along Ipswich Waterfront forms part of the Ipswich Safer Streets 4 project funded through a Home Office grant, delivered between August 2022 and March 2023. 

About the Mural 

The Ipswich VAWG mural was created to provide a lasting public legacy and positive message that challenges attitudes and behaviours. The mural aims to educate and creates a discussion point around VAWG awareness, helping to encourage reporting and reduce  this type of crime. 

Behavioural attitudes, especially towards women, are changing but this is a slow process requiring sustained action by the whole community. ‘If society educates and challenges inappropriate attitudes we can collectively lead change.’ 

Whilst focussed on VAWG, this project promoted the safety of everyone, regardless of gender.  

Our Safer Streets Mural was delivered by Art Eat Events CIC who led workshops with three community groups to gain the voice, thoughts, feelings and direction from community members, including those affected by VAWG. Input to the content and design was provided through Lighthouse Women’s Aid, Suffolk Rape Crisis and Volunteering Matters. 

Art Eat Events CIC is an arts organisation that develops and produces creative projects that focus on community, participation, learning and place-making. Projects take the form of murals, community arts activities, art workshops and events. Art Eat encourages connection through relationship building and working closely with local communities to create exciting and relevant projects that have a meaningful impact for the people and places involved. Art Eat works across East Anglia with a wealth of talented artists from around the UK as well as artists local to Suffolk for clients including charities, local authorities, museums, arts organisations and private businesses. 

Art Eat commissioned Catalina Carvajal, a Colombian visual artist and book illustrator based in Ipswich who also delivers art workshops and co-creates public art with local communities and organisations. Catalina is particularly interested in public art and its positive impact on the local surroundings. She has experience working with communities from all backgrounds and is passionate about integration, diversity, heritage and identity.  

For further information about Arts Eat Events visit www.arteatevents.com or follow the group on social media @arteatevents 

How to intervene safely 

For guidance on how to intervene safely if you witness VAWG crimes, visit Help Stop It | ENOUGH. 

General advice is to... 

  • Say Something 
  • Tell Someone 
  • Offer Support 
  • Provide a Diversion  

And remember, if you are out and about and don’t feel safe, ‘Ask For Angela’ support may be available.  

Whilst our Mural aims to be educational and thought provoking in itself, below are contacts for further help and advice if required. 

Support and Reporting 

If you need immediate help, contact the Police: 

  • Emergency for crime that is happening, call 999. 
  • Silent Solution: If you can't speak safely, call 999, stay on the line, and press 55 when prompted. The call will be transferred to the police as an emergency. 
  • Non-Emergency for a crime that has already happened, call 101 or report online at Suffolk Police. 
  • For anonymous or independent reports, contact Crimestoppers online or call 0800 555 111  

If you or someone you care about needs dedicated help and support, the following organisations are also available: 

Anglia Care Trust 

Alumah 

Brave Futures 

  • Website: Visit Brave Futures 
  • Phone: 01473 353355 
  • Support: Therapeutic service for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse 

Forced Marriage Guidance 

Freedom Charity 

Karma Nirvana Honour Network 

Leeway 

Lighthouse Women’s Aid 

Mankind 

Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care 

Phoebe Centre 

Respect 

  • Website: Visit Respect 
  • Phone: 0808 802 4040 
  • Email: info@respect.org.uk 
  • Support: For domestic abuse perpetrators, male victims, and young people using violence 

Restitute 

Stonewall 

Suffolk County Council 

Survivors in Transition 

The Ferns 

 

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