The Royal Borough of Greenwich, in partnership with the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has released a hard-hitting short film exploring the impact of serious violence on young women and girls.
The 25-minute film called ‘Red’, is a reimagining of the fairytale Little Red Riding Hood, which follows a young girl who is groomed, coerced and pulled into serious violence by her own ‘Wolf’. The film was premiered last night (10 Dec) at the Cineworld in the O2 in an event attended by the Council-Leader Anthony Okereke, Cllr Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, as well as Lib Peck, Director of the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, the film’s Director, cast and many others.
Young girls and women are often unseen in the context of serious violence. Many women are groomed, experience sexual violence, or are connected to serious violence through their partners or male family members. Red has been created to raise awareness of these situations which are often hidden, and hard to spot for an outsider.
The film has been shaped by real life experiences of survivors and extensive research with young people, and highlights the importance of professional curiosity and asking the right questions to uncover harm and intervene sooner. Red will not only serve as a powerful learning resource for frontline teachers, youth and social workers, police and parents but also for the wider community to help us all spot the signs of exploitation and know the steps to take to help.
Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “We launched Red on the last day of the 16 Days of Action, a global movement which calls for more action to prevent and end male violence against women and girls (VAWG).
“The exploitation of girls needs to stop. We can't stress enough the importance of male allyship in the context of ending VAWG, and it’s vital for men to stand up and call out misogynistic attitudes and behaviours by their peers. The message of the film focusses on prevention and accountability, and calls on men and boys, and the wider community to take responsibility for culture change.”
Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement said: “It’s everyone’s business to end violence against women and girls, and developing Red is part of the council’s work to deepen our understanding of the links between domestic abuse and serious violence.
“Creating a film about girls and women involved in serious violence is vital to giving them a voice, breaking down stereotypes, promoting understanding, and driving meaningful change.”
If you are experiencing serious violence or suspect that someone is, get in contact with CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, if you’re under 18, contact Childline on 0800 1111. In an emergency, always call 999.