Torquay students work with MP to launch Torbay Charter aimed at making workplaces safer for women

Students at Torquay Girls’ Grammar School have spearheaded a campaign to make the workplace safer for young women.

They have been working alongside Torbay MP Steve Darling for a year and have now successfully launched a special Torbay Charter.

After a special launch event, Sixth form students Bonnie, Brina and Eleanor said: “We’ve been working alongside Steve Darling on a campaign about protecting women in the workplace.

“As young women, we feel it is vitally important that our voices are heard and appreciated. We want to ensure that women in workplaces can speak out against challenging and uncomfortable situations.”

They revealed: “The issue of workplace harassment was brought to our attention by students in our school who were reporting incidents to staff and to their peers.  

“To gain an understanding of the prevalence of the issue, we surveyed older students from TGGS who had part-time jobs, to gain an understanding of the areas of concern they have. What was clear from the survey was the frequency and volume of incidents that occur in the workplace and it was clear that action was needed.”

A 10-point Charter was proposed to businesses and companies across the Bay during a roundtable meeting hosted at the Shiphay school to receive valuable feedback. 

With the Charter complete, two posters were designed: one for public display and another for staffrooms to inform workers.

The poster campaign was launched at a special event which included Mr Darling and his LIb Dem South Devon counterpart Caroline Voaden as well as stakeholders from global businesses: Whistl and McDonald’s and local companies such as Torquay Leisure Hotels and Golden Palms Amusements.

The girls said: “The experience has been incredibly rewarding, and the aim now is for the campaign to gain further momentum and spread far and wide outside of Torbay..”

MP Mr Darling said: “I have been working with Torquay Girls' Grammar School on tackling misogyny since before becoming an MP so it was great to attend their “Safe in Every Workplace” campaign launch.”

The original roundtable session followed years of campaigning by TGGS students and staff. Deputy Headteacher Emma Browne has raised concerns with both a former MP and a former government minister.

Discussions covered both policy and culture change, from anonymous reporting procedures to addressing everyday sexism. Businesses from a range of sectors - including hospitality, retail, conservation and logistics - contributed to the session.

Mr Darling, who previously served on the Employment Rights Bill committee, where issues such as employer liability for third-party harassment were debated, said: “We’ve heard clearly from the next generation about what needs to change. It’s now up to all of us – employers, educators, and policymakers – to build workplaces that reflect the respect they deserve.”

Whistl, one of the businesses involved, said: “We were proud to take part in this important discussion and commend the students at TGGS for their courage and leadership in speaking up to highlight these topics. 

"At Whistl, we believe every young person deserves to start their working life in an environment that is safe, respectful and supportive. We believe you should be able to ‘Be You’. Being you enables us all to be better. Being you is what makes a great team. And we fully support initiatives like this, and we value collaboration with local partners to build the positive workplace cultures we all need to thrive.”