EVERY year the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership supports the White Ribbon Campaign, an international movement encouraging men to speak out against violence against women and girls.

The campaign takes place between November 25 and December 10 (the 16 days of action).

During this period, a number of local agencies across Worcestershire, led by Worcestershire Forum Against Domestic Abuse, take public action to show opposition to all forms of domestic abuse, irrespective of the victim’s gender.

Did you know that nationally:

  • One in four women suffers from domestic abuse in their lifetime.
  • Two women are killed a week by their partner or ex partner.
  • Women experience an average of 35 incidents before reporting to the police.
  • Police get called every 60 seconds to an incident of domestic abuse.
  • 750.000 Children witness domestic violence every year- half of them have also been abused.

And regionally:

  • West Mercia Police dealt with 2533 crimes linked to domestic abuse in Worcestershire between April 2012 and March 2013.

Following last year’s success, this year there are two events supported by Worcestershire Forum Against Domestic Abuse specifically aimed at male participation and men across Worcestershire will be taking the challenge to walk a mile in women’s shoes to raise awareness of domestic violence.

The events are called ‘These Heels are made for Walking’ and participants are encouraged to wear a range of different types of shoes to represent the different walks of life female victims of violence and abuse come from – high heels, girls’ trainers, sandals or fluffy slippers!

Once again, Safer Redditch will host a Men’s Heel Walk on Friday, November 29 at 2pm at Walter Stranz Square, outside Redditch Town Hall.

For more information and to register, please contact saferredditch@ redditchbc.gov.uk.

Worcester College of Technology has teamed up with Safer Worcester to organise a Heels Walk in Worcester on Thursday November 21. For more details contact Faye Williams at fwilliams@ wortech.ac.uk.

Just turn up at Worcester College of Technology, All Saints Building at 5.30pm.

Please come along to the Co-op in Stourport on November 27 between 9am and 1pm where Safer Wyre Forest and Wyre Forest Women’s Aid will have a personal safety stand.

For more information and to pledge your support, please visit http://www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk/worcestershire.

If you would like more information about North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership, please visit www.nwcsp.org or email saferwyreforest@wyreforestdc.gov.uk.

SUE HANLEY Chairman North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership