Why are people wearing White Ribbons?

White Ribbon Day and the 16 Days of Action Campaign 25^th November – 10^th December

You may see staff around the school wearing a White Ribbon and wonder why.  Each year the 16 Days of Action Campaign starts on White Ribbon Day the 25^th November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and ends on 10^th December (International Human Rights Day).  It raises awareness of male violence against women and girls and the White Ribbon is principally a symbol for men to show that they are saying NO to violence against women. 

The campaign focuses on this type of abuse because across North Worcestershire between 1^st April 2018 and 31^st March 2019, 3638 offences were recorded that involved an element of domestic abuse - 72% of victims were female and 76% of suspects were male.  We recognise that men can be victims too, although in lower numbers and so both help lines are below and in Worcestershire we are ALL wearing the White Ribbon and saying NO to domestic abuse of all kinds.

Wyre Forest and Hagley schools and 10.32 Children’s Centres are all supporting the campaign and information is available from Receptions or High School Community Ambassadors.   

A person doesn’t need to be assaulted to be a victim of domestic abuse - Coercive Controlling behaviour is a criminal offence.   You can find out more about it and Clare’s Law, which gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them, by visiting www.worcestershiredomesticandsexualabuse.co.uk

If you feel afraid of someone in your life who is supposed to care about you, but hurts you deliberately or doesn’t let you live your life the way you want to, don’t suffer in silence, please ring the free, confidential 24 hour Worcestershire Domestic Abuse helpline which is staffed by trained workers 0800 980 3331. You can visit www.westmerciawomensaid.org for more information.

The male helpline number is 0800 014 9082 and the email address is male.support@rooftopgroup.org.  It is manned on a Tuesday between 11.00am and 3.00pm, although messages can be left at any time. 

We hope that you are able to support this important campaign and help to raise awareness of domestic abuse by wearing a White Ribbon, so that the people affected by it will know that they are not alone and where to go to get help and support.