The Walkie Talkie Girlies Society (WTG) was founded in November 2023 with a simple but incredibly important goal – ensuring women feel safer when walking through Belfast at night. Today it stands at more than 500 members, making it one of the largest and fastest-growing societies at Queen’s.

Co-founder of the Society, Aisling Cannon, a final year Law student from Donegal, came up with the idea after a troubling encounter. "The idea came from personal experience," Aisling explains. "I was alone waiting for a bus in the city centre when a man started asking uncomfortable questions. With no taxis available, I noticed a group of students and asked to walk with them. They ended up walking me all the way back to Elms, despite it being out of their way.”

Not only did the group kindly walk Aisling home, but they exchanged contact details – asking Aisling to text them as soon as she had arrived back in her room:

“This was a defining moment as it reinforced the idea that women do feel safer walking with others.”

The Walkie Talkie Girlies Society

MORE THAN JUST A WALK

What began as a few informal group walks has quickly evolved into an organised society with hundreds of members and a packed calendar of events. At a time when ending violence against women and girls is high on the agenda not just in Belfast but right across Northern Ireland, these weekly walks around the city centre provide a safe and social space for students to connect while enjoying the fresh air. The routes and meeting points are shared privately in a members' group chat to prioritise safety. 

With a reach extending beyond the University, Aisling explains:

“A lot of our walks are also in collaboration with local businesses such as WIP, Coop Coffee Co, Daisies, and Wing It. Not only does this raise awareness, they offer discounts to members in exchange for us bringing them customers so it’s a win-win!"

And WTG isn’t just about organised walks. The society has hosted pub quizzes, awareness campaigns, and large-scale events like Project Pink, which saw 500 students dressed in pink walk from the Lanyon Building to a pink-lit City Hall in support of the ‘Ending Violence Against Women and Girls’ (EVAWG) campaign, spearheaded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Executive. 

Aisling said:

"Our collective presence brought parts of the city to a halt. It was a proud moment for us, and going forward, we will continue to highlight this issue and support the EVAWG campaign.”

This work is supported by the University with its Report + Support mechanism where students can receive support from qualified staff if they have been impacted by either sexual misconduct, domestic abuse, harassment, bullying, online abuse and/or hate crime.

FINDING FRIENDSHIP AND CONFIDENCE

For Shauna McKey, also a final year Law student and hailing from Craigavon, WTG has been more than just a movement. In her role as Society Secretary, she has been through a personal transformation. 

She said:

"From public speaking to radio appearances, this society has boosted my confidence in ways I never expected.”

Aisling and members of Walkie Talkie Girlies on one of their morning walks

Shauna was part of the founding committee and knew from the start that this was something special:

"The idea of creating a warm, welcoming space for women to walk together and feel safe was something I had to be part of."

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

Looking ahead, WTG has big plans. As membership continues to grow, Aisling and Shauna are determined to keep fostering a safe and supportive community.

Their message to anyone considering joining is simple: "Just do it!" Shauna urges. "You’ll meet the best people and feel instantly at home”, Aisling adds: “And if it’s not enough to come for the chats and the walk, come to one of our collab walks and get yourself a discount!”

For more information, follow Walkie Talkie Girlies on social media and take that first step – you won’t walk alone.

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