Enfield schools will receive a share of a £20m government fund which will be used to run classes challenging misogynistic attitudes, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Enfield Civic Centre and (inset) Alev Cazimoglu

Enfield’s schools will receive a share of a new £20million government fund to help tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) – as a new council strategy seeks to address the issue.

The new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2026-2035 was approved by Enfield Council’s cabinet on Wednesday (11th) last week.

The £20m government funding is part of a national campaign, ‘Freedom From Violence and Abuse’, launched in February.

The money will help fund classes which challenge misogynistic attitudes. These are set to be taught as part of the personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) curriculum.

The council has not yet been able to say how much money will be spent on this – but it is understood the local authority will work with individual schools to agree on delivery of the government funds.

The coucil’s VAWG strategy includes a new framework, approved by Enfield’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, to provide guidelines on how the local authority can help tackle the issue of violence against women and girls. This includes methods of prevention and of responding to instances of violence.

It is set to last ten years, with a review every three. This, said cabinet member for health Alev Cazimoglu, is because “tackling the root causes of violence, including trauma, inequality, misogyny and exploitation requires a sustained, long-term effort”.

Presenting the strategy at cabinet, she added that the council’s aim is to “create a borough where all residents live a life free from domestic abuse and violence against women and girls”.

It has been designed to be in line with the Mayor of London’s own VAWG strategy, set to be published in the next few months.

In developing the Enfield strategy, the council says its officers undertook consultations with “a wide range of partner agencies, community, and voluntary sector organisations, including specialist violence against women and girls’ services”.

In addition, the local authority says it held two focus groups with survivors of domestic abuse to “provide valuable insights into the strategy, the priorities, and actions”.

Speaking ahead of the decision, Cllr Cazimoglu said the council had heard “a strong message from local residents that tackling violence and abuse is a top priority”.

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