14th August 2026
Angela Smith, Nexus, Jennifer Welsh Chief Executive Belfast Trust, Orla Barron, Belfast Trust Interim Co-Director Planning and Equality, Deborah Healy, Belfast Trust Planning and Equality Manager and Stuart Elborn Chair Belfast Trust.
Belfast Trust has taken part in a workplace programme delivered by Nexus NI to help end violence against women and girls by challenging misogyny, training staff, and improving safety policies.
One in three women in Northern Ireland have experienced sexual harassment at work, and 30 women have been murdered in the region since 2020.
Belfast Trust is the largest health and social care organisation and one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland. The Trust recognises the vital role it plays in contributing to a changed society where women and girls can live free from gender-based violence, abuse and harm, including the attitudes, systems and structural inequalities that cause them.
Through the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Take a Pledge programme run by Nexus NI, the Trust reaffirmed its commitment to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive working environment for staff affected by or at risk of abuse, and to provide a supportive and responsive service to anyone affected by abuse when accessing health and social care.
Jennifer Welsh, Belfast Trust Chief Executive said:
“It is so important for all of our staff within the Trust to work together to contribute to changing the culture and society in Northern Ireland.
“Our staff come to work every day to look after others, but we also have a responsibility to look after each other; to be aware of and call out behaviour that is abusive or harmful, particularly towards women and girls.
“The Take a Pledge programme from Nexus NI shows that Belfast Trust is unswerving in its vision and actions to building a safer, more respectful future for all.”
The pledge encourages organisations across Northern Ireland to take meaningful action to prevent violence, support those affected, and promote a culture where abuse is not tolerated.
It is supported by The Executive Office’s Change Fund as part of the regional strategy to end violence against women and girls.
Prof Stuart Elborn, Chair of Belfast Trust, said:
“Visible leadership and a collective effort are vital to driving culture change and tackling violence against women and girls.
“I am proud to say that our Trust Board recently welcomed Nexus to a Board meeting to discuss the prevalence of violence, its impact on victims and survivors, and the requirements of the EVAWG pledge. We are committed to taking all necessary actions to fulfil this pledge.
“As a Board, we are fully committed to supporting and driving this important organisational commitment.”
The Trust has a long-standing history of supporting staff who experience domestic sexual abuse or violence regardless of their gender or their position in the organisation.
We continue to offer this support through trained domestic abuse support staff who can advise on practical adjustments or give emotional support.
The Trust recognises that domestic and sexual abuse can and does happen to anyone but statistics show that women and girls are targeted more than men.
We believe that creating safer workplaces where staff feel supported means influencing wider social change.
Belfast Trust is leading the way with the Safe Leave Act NI, which allows employees a minimum of 10 days paid leave per year, for activities connected to domestic abuse. The act means that for legal appointments, relocation and support services employees receive their normal pay during this time off.
The act is not yet in place in Northern Ireland, however the Belfast Trust is ahead of the legislation and is applying the act already.
Belfast Trust has also already taken significant steps to embed the principles of the pledge such as the launch of its first network of 33 trained EVAWG Champions across the Trust, who will help take forward this important work.
Each champion is a safe person for colleagues to approach about concerns they may have, as well as providing vital support to colleagues who make disclosures of abuse.
EVAWG Champions also promote positive culture and challenging harmful behaviours.