Martial arts groups are helping to kickstart a campaign to tackle violence and harassment against women and girls.

Local sports groups, pubs and schools are working with Tameside Council to help reduce violence against women and girls, in conjunction with the White Ribbon Campaign.

This year’s White Ribbon theme is #ItStartsWithMen and it is focusing on challenging behaviours of males and encouraging men to hold each other to account and becomes allies to women and girls.

The council is working alongside local martial arts groups to help spread awareness of the White Ribbon campaign and advocate the importance it has in our community.

Tameside Karate have been very active ambassadors and are doing significant work as White Ribbon Champions. Starting in Tameside but taking their influence national, linking up with other groups to encourage involvement with plans to have White Ribbon stalls at competitions up and down the country.

Bridges Partnership, Tameside’s specialist domestic abuse support service also held a stall at Curzon Asthon football stadium to promote the work of the campaign with local fans.

Council licensing officers are distributing White Ribbon posters and beer mats to local pubs and clubs to help raise awareness of this message.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Public Health Cllr Tafheen Sharif said: “It is excellent to see the involvement of local sports groups, businesses and schools in helping to circulate the White Ribbon message. Tackling violence against women and girls is something we should all be working towards as a community.”

Find out more about the campaign, become a White Ribbon ambassador or champion or make the White Ribbon promise visit www.whiteribbon.org.uk