Neath Port Talbot Council’s White Ribbon Campaign In Full Bloom

In a bid to raise awareness of this year’s White Ribbon Campaign, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Community Safety Team have unveiled a white ribbon themed floral display to raise awareness of domestic abuse throughout the month of November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is part of a wider campaign in which organisations including Safer Neath Port Talbot, Calan DVS, Port Talbot and Afan Women’s Aid, Hafan Cymru, Neath Port Talbot Hospital, NPTC Group and TATA Steel have joined together to talk about domestic abuse in the lead-up to White Ribbon Day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The White Ribbon Campaign is a registered charity which encourages people to wear white ribbons on 25th November, the International Day Against Violence Against Women, to show support for the campaign’s work to eradicate violence against women and girls. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The White Ribbon symbolises the campaign’s goal of creating a world where women and girls can live free from the fear of violence, by challenging the acceptability of violence and breaking the stigma so those affected can access the services they need to get help. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To kick-start the campaign, a White Ribbon theme has been incorporated in the Council’s Winter Bedding Programme in Victoria Gardens, Neath, and white ribbons will be available from the Neath Port Talbot Community Safety Team or the Domestic Abuse One Stop Shop in Neath. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Port Talbot & Afan Women’s Aid also held their fourth annual ‘Material Girls’ fashion show on 25th October in Blanco’s Port Talbot, raising £1100 for the charity which provides support to families who have been affected by Domestic Abuse. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Throughout November, The Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Leadership Group will also be displaying 122 pairs of womens’ shoes in Neath Civic Centre to represent the 122 women in the UK who died last year as a direct result of domestic violence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Neath Port Talbot Council Leader, Cllr. Ali Thomas OBE said: “Initiatives such as White Ribbon Day are vital to raise awareness of the support that is available for those who need it, and to educate people to prevent further instances. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Domestic abuse is not acceptable under any cirumstance. I would urge people in our communities to take a stand and wear a white ribbon in support of our pledge against violence.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sian Morris, Community Safety Manager said: “One in four women will experience some form of domestic abuse in their life time and so we have to make it clear this is not acceptable in any way. We will work with victims to reassure them that they are not alone, not to blame for the violence used against them and to help them overcome stigma and fear.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Women who come forward to access specialist services are much more likely to walk away from domestic abuse, which is why the Community Safety Team encourage victims of domestic abuse to break the silence and accept help”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Follow the Community Safety Team’s Facebook page Safer Neath Port Talbot to find out more about events and support. Contact the team on 01639 889162 or the One Stop Shop on 01639 622350 for a white ribbon pin. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic abuse, please contact the Live Fear Free Helpline 0808 80 10 800 or visit http://livefearfree.gov.wales/?skip=1&lang=en. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​