Safety event held for young girls in Maidstone

The Kent Police netball team led a 4-day sports event in Maidstone with personal safety being the aim of the game.

Local schools were offered the opportunity to nominate pupils to take part and 19 girls, aged 11-16, attended.

Between Monday 3 and Thursday 6 August 2026, the Kent Police netball team worked to build and nurture positive relationships with the young girls and improve their perception of, and confidence in, police.

Volunteers from the force took time to promote awareness of personal safety and violence against women and girls, and improve young girls' awareness of the roles and support available from the police, and other partner agencies.

The team planned and delivered a curriculum designed to teach the fundamentals of netball, with coaching from England Netball, and explore:
• Mental health and personal resilience
• How to report a crime and contact police
• What constitutes an emergency
• Sexual health and personal safety, delivered by Fusion Café
• Women in policing, with female representation from crime scene investigators, dog handlers, coordinators from the Violence Reduction Unit, and more
• How to do CPR and use a defibrillator, delivered by South East Coast Ambulance Service

PC Jessica Arnold, who led the initiative alongside PCSO Kirsty Greaves and People Development Officer Chloe Marlow, said:
‘The atmosphere across the four days was amazing with lots of positive engagement with those taking part across lots of different topics all relevant to them.
‘The positive impact made by women working across all sorts of roles within Kent Police will have a lasting impact. The feedback from those attending and their parents was great and we hope that this may become a regularly run event.’

One participant, Daisy Groombridge, shared a poem with the course leaders, reflecting on her experience:
You are more than just your badge
These ladies wear their badges with strength and pride, protecting Kent far and wide.
But when the police siren drifts away, they give their hearts in a different way.
On the netball court with smiles so big and bright, they coach, encourage and ignite.
Not just teaching passes or goals but building confidence for kids big and small.
They cheer each effort and every try lifting dreams so big and high, growing courage kind strong.
They lead with lots of patience having a laugh and showing care, creating moments everyone can share.
Breaking barriers, earning trust and sharing showing fairness is a must.
Their great victory isn’t all about scoring, it’s about opening a hopeful door in every child they help and meet.
So, here’s to these lovely women brave, beautiful and true, whose service shines in all that you guys do.
For everything that you guys help transform, just know you prove that kindness is its own uniform.