The Kingston RFC initative is part of a wider #letsliftthecurfew campaign to highlight women’s safety concerns at night.
The clocks went back on Saturday 25 October, and with the nights drawing in, many women feel forced to stay inside due to safety concerns.
Local sports team Kingston RFC women, is encouraging women to continue playing the sports they love with a special Thursday ‘Night Lights’ open training session on 29 October at 7.30 pm.
The team captain, Brittany Marshall urged women to “not give up that section of your life”. “It is really sad, women losing that aspect,” she said.
The initiative is part of the national #letsliftthecurfew campaign, run as part of the wider national This Girl Can campaign.
Team players spoke to the Courier about the issue.
Rosie Bollins travels from Brixton every Thursday to attend the 7.30pm training sessions. She trains with her sister Grace, who often walks her to the train station on the way home. But it is the other side of the train journey home that presents some challenges.
She said: “When I am getting off the train at this time of night, I have to walk through a park and that is terrifying. But luckily, some weeks I will meet my boyfriend, because he is coming back from football, so we will walk back together. But if he is not there, I will walk down the road instead of through the park.”
Vicki Broadhead, a new player in the team, said: “My husband is a police officer, so I hear about all the bad stuff from that as well, so it is quite scary.”
However, she described the rugby club itself as being well-lit, with good parking and lots of people around, which makes the training location feel very safe.
The #letsliftthecurfew campaign was not just about women or one event, but a message about women’s safety generally which men could share.
The Kingston RFC men are being extremely supportive of the work they are doing, according to player Brittany Marshall, who said they have been sharing the message across their social media platforms to help raise awareness of the challenges women face.
She hoped it would bring lasting change, with the boys “growing up thinking ‘women still feel unsafe at night, what can I do?'”.
Some 72% of women change their outdoor activity routines due to safety concerns during the autumn and winter months.
Head coach, Gabriel Turner, described how they are “encouraging newbies to give it a go”, especially for those who did not have the opportunity to try rugby earlier in life.
If you are interested in joining the training session on Thursday 29 October, contact Gabriel Turner at: headcoach@kingstonrfc.com
Location: Kingston Rugby Club, Rear of King Edward’s Recreation Ground, Hook Road, Chessington, KT9 1PL.
