Tameside gyms, pubs and football clubs step up to highlight White Ribbon Day

Tameside gyms, pubs and football clubs are getting behind a campaign to call out violence and harassment against women and girls.

White Ribbon Day on Saturday 25 November will launch the national 16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women and Girls. This year, its theme is #ChangetheStory  to help start changing “normalised” behaviours and attitudes.

Tameside Council, which this year gained White Ribbon Accreditation, is urging the whole community to make a stand against violent and/or harassing behaviours which may harm, threaten or intimidate women and girls.

The council is working with local gyms, pubs, key local football clubs and partners to help raise awareness of the message. This will include posters going up inside premises as well as messages being shared on their social media channels and in their newsletters.

There will also be White Ribbon beer mats in pubs and Jigsaw, who run Tameside’s domestic abuse support service, will be holding a stall at Curzon Ashton on 2 December.

The 16 Days of Action will include training sessions for council and partner staff as well as outreach work in schools.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Population Health Cllr Eleanor Wills said: “Violence experienced by women and girls takes many forms. Some behaviours and words may seem ‘harmless’ but normalising them ignores the short and long-term effects on women and can lead to more extreme violence.

“It’s great to work with gyms, pubs and football clubs to help reach our community – and especially men – with the White Ribbon message and encourage everyone to get behind it.

“I’m urging people not to stand by if they see or hear something inappropriate – they need to call out the behaviour and make it clear that it isn’t acceptable. Culture change doesn’t happen overnight, but we can all make a stand – and ultimately make a difference - in ending men’s violence against women and girls in our lifetimes.”

People can find out more about the campaign, becoming a White Ribbon ambassador or champion or make the White Ribbon promise at www.whiteribbon.org.uk