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Hospitals sign charter to keep women and girls safe

Sarah-Jane MuddimanNorthamptonshire
Northamptonshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner Two women smiling and standing side by side holding a framed certificate together. One woman is shorter, wearing sunglasses and a blue denim jacket, with black clothing underneath and white blond hair. The other woman stands on the right hand side, she's taller with light brown hair, and wears a white long sleeved top, black trousers and a bright orange lanyard. They stand in front of an entrance to an NHS training department, the silver automatic doors are open. Northamptonshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner
The county's police, fire and crime commissioner, Danielle Stone, (left) pictured with Paula Kirkpatrick, University Hospitals of Northamptonshire's chief people officer

The two hospitals in Northampton and Kettering have joined 119 other local organisations that have signed up to the Northamptonshire Women's Charter.

The charter was launched more than nine months ago by Danielle Stone, the police, fire and crime commissioner for the county.

By joining, the hospitals have committed to improving the safety of women and girls at work and in public spaces.

Paula Kirkpatrick, University Hospitals of Northamptonshire's chief people officer, said: "Signing this Charter is important to UHN. We want to make sure all women and girls who work in our hospitals or who use our services can do so without fear of violence."

Northamptonshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner A group of four people, 3 women and one man, standing together and talking. One lady on the left has her hands in the pockets of her loose, flowery trousers. In the middle is a shorter woman, with white blond hair, sunglasses and a blue denim jacket. She also has one hand in her pocket and looks interested in what the woman on the right hand side is saying. The woman on the right has brown hair almost to her shoulders, she's wearing a burgundy and white top, also has one hand in her pocket and is making gestures with her other hand while she speaks. A man stands slightly in the background, he's taller with a slight beard and dark hair, with dark clothing. He looks interested in the conversation the three women are having, his hands are behind his back. Northamptonshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner
The charter is a pledge to protect women and girls in the workplace

Organisations signing up to the charter have access to training packages, as well as support and advice to help them make their work spaces inclusive for women.

Kirkpatrick added that signing the charter gave the hospitals "access to helpful resources and a network of other like-minded employers who are committed to making Northamptonshire a safer place for women and girls to live and work".

Danielle Stone said she was "delighted" the hospitals had signed up to the charter.

"It is now more than nine months since we launched the charter and it's clear that there is an appetite across the whole county to work collectively to reduce violence against women and girls."

More than 11,000 people work across the two hospitals.

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