Outcomes

Reclaim Blackpool Women’s Group

Since January 2023 we’ve hosted a monthly meet up of women involved with our project mapping sexual harassment in the town. We meet on the second Wednesday of each month. Come along for crafts and patriarchy smashing.

It’s a chance to come together in a supportive space and socialise with likeminded women. The space can be used for activism, conversation and connections. A monthly creative activity will give you the chance to get crafty. Light refreshments provided.

Lancashire PCC backs Reclaim Blackpool 

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, has backed Reclaim Blackpool with his Violence Against Women and Girls Fund. 

The fund is designed to support initiatives tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, aligning with the darker nights, and the 16 Days of Activism. It aims to raise awareness, prevent violence, and strengthen local partnership networks that protect and empower women and girls.

Throughout Autumn and Winter 2025, Reclaim Blackpool will be focussing on growing our movement, with a series of workshops, the continuation of our women’s group, an awareness campaign and expanding our online presence. Follow us on Instagram for regular updates.

Workshops and Events

What started as sharing stories online during the pandemic has translated into a tangible activist movement in Blackpool. Alongside our monthly women’s meetings we host regular workshops and events designed to empower and provide a safe space. Keep an eye on our socials for news of future workshops and events.

We’re Sew Done 

Following the initial wave of reports on the Reclaim Blackpool map in 2021, craftivist group Knittaz With Attitude decided to make textile works of art that could be strategically placed in the locations plotted on it to highlight the harassment and threats of violence that women face every day. Over 20 participants created a diverse range of powerful artworks which were later exhibited in Blackpool Central Library and documented in a book, alongside in-depth stories from victims who had recorded incidents. Read more about the project and buy the book here. 

Press coverage 

22nd May 2025 – DIY AGM Blackpool: Mixed emotions as farmers come to town – Farmers Weekly

12th May 2024 – Having worked in a Blackpool bar when Young Farmers was on back in the day, I’d take the bear every time – Blackpool Gazette 

7th May 2024 – Blackpool puts a price on the degradation of females – The Lead 

13th March 2024 – Poignant service held at Layton Cemetery to remember six women murdered by their partners – Blackpool Gazette 

24th January 2024 – How Blackpool has tackled child sexual exploitation since Charlene Downes’ murder uncovered a grooming scandal – Blackpool Gazette 

23rd January 2024 – People come here, leave, call it a shit hole – The Lead

8th December 2023 – Reclaim Blackpool Reclaims the Night – Blackpool Gazette

25th May 2023 – The Vocal Local: I’m joining women in calling out misogyny in skateboarding – Blackpool Social Club

25th May 2023 – BBC North West Tonight special report Part 2

24th May 2023 – The Vocal Local: Why we still need to Reclaim SLAG – Blackpool Social Club

24th May – BBC North West Tonight special report. Part 1

24th May 2023 – Why we still need to Reclaim SLAG – Blackpool Social Club

22nd April 2023 – The Vocal Local: Let’s not skirt the problem of sexist school uniform – Blackpool Social Club

2 April 2023 – I’m raising my daughters in the UK’s toughest town to be a girl – The Independent

22 March 2023 – Female skaters in Blackpool call out skatepark sexism – Blackpool Gazette

1 March 2023 – Reclaim SLAG: fundraising for women’s safety – Blackpool Social Club

12 Dec 2022 – Protesters face catcalls as they take to Blackpool streets to Reclaim The Night

5 Dec 2022 – Reclaim the Night: Blackpool women issue call to action – Blackpool Social Club

20 Oct 2022 – Daily aims to ‘reclaim’ patch for women with sexual harassment map – Hold the Front Page

17 Oct 2022 – Reclaiming Blackpool from the scourge of sexual harassment – Blackpool Gazette

6 Oct 2022 – Reclaim Our Story – Blackpool Social Club

31 Jan 2022 – Sew over it – Big Issue North

12 Oct 2021 – Blackpool women relive casual sexism in street project – Blackpool Gazette

1 April 2021 – Reclaim These Streets – Mapping harassment in Blackpool – Blackpool Social Club

Reclaim The Night march

Each December since 2022 we’ve joined Empowerment charity to Reclaim The Night – marching through Blackpool Town Centre to call for women’s safety. Photos: Libby Gomm.

Safer Streets fund

Blackpool Council showed its support for the Reclaim Blackpool Map, contacting organisers in July 2021 to request permission to use the evidence collected in a bid for the government’s £23.5m Safer Streets Fund, which is intended to “make public spaces safer for all through projects to help women and girls feel safer on our street”. The fund was allocated in October 2021, with Blackpool Council being awarded £550,000 – the second largest sum in the North West after Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, and more than Greater Manchester Combined Authority – which it said was in no small part thanks to the testimonies gathered on the map. The fund was allocated in January 2022 with local charity Empowerment receiving a portion to roll out a campaign entitled It Stops Here. The charity is supporting and promoting Reclaim Blackpool as one of the main pillars of its campaign. Safer Streets is also funding the Green Dot bystander programme, which involves training on sexual abuse, domestic abuse and harassment. The training will be delivered in schools and colleges as well as to door staff, bar staff and taxi drivers. 

Catcalling Ain’t A Compliment T Shirt

Brilliant Blackpool designer Becky Davies, aka Grumpy Girl Graphics, created this rawsome T shirt design for Reclaim Blackpool in February 2023. Check out the cute Reclaim Blackpool tat above the cat’s collar. The limited edition screen printed T shirt is available on the Aunty Social shop and £5 from every sale goes back into Reclaim, allowing us to run projects and events to reach more women in the town. Grumpy Girl is also responsible for Reclaim Blackpool’s logos and this collaboration is one outcome from Reclaim Blackpool Women’s Group, of which Becky is a vital part. Thank you Becky for all your hard work and support and thanks to the 49 of you who ordered one in the presale.