A new alliance has been launched to tackle violence against women and girls in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Alliance was formed in June 2024 by a group of leaders from third-sector organisations.

The official launch took place on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25.

The alliance aims to increase communication between agencies, share challenges, collaborate, and raise awareness.

Mr Lynne Cumming, head of operations at FlagDV, said: "The VAWG Alliance was founded to address the challenges faced by charities that support people affected by violence, aggression, and harm.

"This abuse disproportionately impacts women and girls in our local communities, placing intense demand on the alliance members and all third-sector services who are committed to meeting this growing need of support.

"By combining our unique insights and expertise, we stand together as a unified voice, advocating for both survivors and the services that support them."

The alliance also plans to provide training and support to professionals and communities committed to reducing VAWG.

Ms Beki Osborne, CEO of SAASSBMK, said: "With violence against women and girls being declared a national emergency and specialist services like ours being overwhelmed with increasing demands for support, it's vital that we come together to work collaboratively to deliver effective support and solutions to our local community."

A list of partner organisations is available on the alliance's website.