Dozens march through Rotherham to Reclaim the Night and stand against violence

More than 100 people joined the Reclaim the Night walk in Rotherham on Friday evening as part of the UN Day to End Violence Against Women. 

Cllr Emma Hoddinott, one of the main organisers, said: “It went really well. I’m really pleased, I think over 100 people came along.

“It was nice to see so many different types of people and families.

“This was the fourth annual walk and it felt bigger and better than the previous events.”

This year’s theme was Rotherham Women — Past, Present and Future. 

Students from Rotherham College talked about women’s role in the First World War and Barbara Jackson, from the Orgreave Truth and Justice campaign, talked about the Miners’ Strike

Cllr Jayne Senior, who helped to expose the town’s abuse scandal, also spoke outside Rotherham Minster about making sure CSE victims and survivors’ voices were heard.

Speeches in the Town Hall, which focused on hope for the future, closed the event.

“It was a warm and nice atmosphere — we want it to be an annual event as it’s a really good opportunity for women in the town to raise issues that matter to them,” Cllr Hoddinott added.

“But the event is always reliant on lots of volunteers, without them we couldn’t make it happen.” 

Throughout the year, the Louder Together project led by Cllr Lyndsay Pitchley will continue to bring together women and women’s groups in the borough.