On Friday evening, students and SU Staff & Officers gathered at City Campus, to march as a collective in the Gloucestershire Reclaim the Night March.

The march drew campaigners, community groups and residents who came together to demand safer streets for women and girls.

The event, organised by Gloucester City Council and supported by partners across the county, saw an incredible Suffragette-inspired banner take pride of place at the front of the procession, as well as placards (some of which were created by students in the workshops ran in partnership with the SU this week) and light up signs.

The rain held off as we joined the growing crowd in Kings Square to listen to music, hear opening speeches and gather our chant sheets ready to make our way through Gloucester City Centre.

Reclaim the Night Gloucestershire forms part of the national Reclaim the Night movement, which began in 1977 and continues to highlight the ongoing issue of gender-based violence. It also sits within the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which the SU and student groups have been supporting, that runs from 25 November to 10 December.  As part of the campaign, SU Staff were in sector-led training with organisations such as GRASAC, the SARC at Hope House, GDASS and the Night Angels last week, to ensure that the work we do is survivor-led and responds with care.

Gathering from 6pm in Kings Square, marchers completed the route before returning for music and refreshments provided by Glos Soup, rounding off the evening with a strong sense of community solidarity.

If you would like to be involved in campaigning, send an email to the Student Advocacy and Campaigns Team at SUstudentvoice@glos.ac.uk

If you would like confidential advice on any form of sexual or gender based violence (including harassment) email the SU Advice Service at SUadvice@glos.ac.uk where you can arrange to speak to our Advisor for support and be signposted to our specialist community partners.

You can also report all forms of harassment & violence via the University’s Incident Reporting Tool here

Your Students’ Union stands in solidarity with all those who have experienced gender-based violence and continues to work for a safer community for all.