A woman’s safety campaign created by Guernsey’s Poppy Murray has been promoted by two of the UK’s most recognisable comedians and broadcasters, Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe, on their podcast ‘Parenting Hell’.
The BE LADS campaign, which gives practical advice to men on helping women feel safer walking alone, was featured on the hit podcast, which attracts over 320,000 monthly listeners and regularly ranks among the country’s most popular comedy podcasts.
Founded by Poppy Murray (pictured) in 2021, BE LADS is an acronym for six practical ways men can non-verbally indicate that they are not a threat to a woman walking alone. The campaign has since gained support from police forces, professional sports organisations, businesses, and community groups across the UK and internationally.
Rob Beckett is one of Britain’s best-known comedians and television personalities, having appeared on programmes including 8 out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, Would I lie to you?, and Rob & Romesh Vs. Josh Widdicombe is a bestselling author, stand-up comedian, and television presenter known for appearances on The Last Leg, Mock the Week, and numerous other prime-time television shows.
The pair discussed the BE LADS campaign, helping introduce the initiative and its message to a significant national audience.
Poppy said: “The conversation between Rob and Josh was fantastic. In less than three minutes they’d run through the BE LADS acronym, and talked through a scenario of how to implement the advice. It was exactly the kind of chat all men could be having with each other. Although helping women feel safe is an important topic, Rob and Josh proved that these conversations don’t have to be heavy, drawn out, or difficult.”
The endorsement from Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe represents the latest milestone for BE LADS. As the campaign continues to gain traction, Poppy has become a leading voice in tackling violence against women and girls, having authored a chapter on the subject for the recently published book ‘Building an Outstanding Police Service’ for His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.
BE LADS shows no signs of slowing down, with presentations upcoming for City of London Police, West Midlands Police, and Du Montfort University.
“The traction that BE LADS has gained over the last five years is phenomenal,” said Poppy. “The journey from a simple Facebook post to the likes of New Scotland Yard, Chelsea Football Club, and the Parenting Hell podcast reinforces the message that one person can make a difference, and small steps can have a big impact.”
