Violence Against Women, Girls and Children (VAWG/C) in Rural Communities

The Government’s VAWG Strategy “Freedom from Violence and Abuse”(2025–2030) is a welcome statement that emphasises prevention, victim support, and perpetrator accountability. Despite extensive submissions highlighting rural survivors' experiences, there's only one mention in the Action Plan, “Commence a call for evidence across a network of rural stakeholders to inform understanding of the availability of support services and delivery methodologies that might be effective in rural areas”.

We have work to do.

I was pleased to be invited to share my Churchill Report with BBC Countryfile and take part in a short piece on rural domestic abuse, which aired on 18 January to highlight the persistent challenge of rural invisibility in national responses to violence and abuse.

During the programme, we saw the Minister, Jess Phillips, defend the Strategy as one for “the entire country,” and said she must “country proof” it, not just for the countryside. This and other comments highlight gaps in understanding the link between rural inequality and victims' experiences. Rural disadvantage, influenced by geography, demography, culture, infrastructure, and funding, directly affects how abuse is experienced, disclosed, and responded to.

My recent Churchill Fellowship report, The Paradox of Community, explores how rural communities are often characterised by close relationships, a sense of pride in their community, and mutual support. These strengths are protective but create a paradox. Visibility, lack of anonymity, social pressure, and fear can silence victims and hide harm. National strategies that ignore this paradox risk increasing danger rather than reducing it.

Funding is crucial, but rural areas are underfunded because formulas ignore the true costs of delivering services to dispersed populations - higher travel costs, staff shortages, fewer referral options, and limited housing options for victims who wish to leave. Commissioners often neglect these, leading to inadequate funding that jeopardises service quality and the well-being of those with high caseloads. This makes fairer funding a safety issue.

My Fellowship findings highlight the need for a Rural Coordinated Community Response (RCCR) that brings together policing, housing, health, social care, education, voluntary groups, and community infrastructure to reflect rural life. It aims to improve agency collaboration despite distance and resource scarcity.

Prevention must include men and boys. Engaging men as allies and challenging harmful gender norms are crucial for lasting change. As a Trustee of Rural Media, I see this through their Breaking Out series, which empowers boys and young men in rural areas to explore masculinity, emotions, and identity through storytelling. This relational, place-based, emotionally literate work is true prevention, addressing harm early and potentially changing lives by countering negative norms learned at home or from social media.

Last year, I founded RiTA – Rural Initiatives to Tackle Abuse. RiTA operates at the intersection of VAWG/C and rural sectors to champion visibility of rural victims and communities and work collaboratively with partners to build community safety.

The challenge of starting a new social enterprise is real – if anyone is interested in supporting the growth and development of RiTA, please get in touch!

Judith Vickress
Contact me: [email protected]