THIS month I’d like to focus on an international campaign that aims to end violence against women, entitled ‘The 16 Days of Action’.

The campaign will be launched globally on Thursday, November 25 and will run until Friday, December 10. The launch event will be at the University of Worcester on November 25 and one of America’s leading lights in the social justice arena will be the keynote speaker.

Tony Porter, the visionary and co-founder of an organisation called ‘A Call to Men’ – which addresses domestic and sexual violence prevention and the promotion of healthy manhood – will speak at the first ever UK Call to Men.

The event is being organised by a self-help group of women survivors of domestic abuse, called SupportWorks and supported by The Worcestershire Forum Against Domestic Abuse; the conference organisers have also teamed up with The Worcester News as media partner.

Supportworks is a not-for-profit organisation and was launched in 2010. It is unique in that that it has an added purpose – to raise funds to enable other women survivors of domestic abuse within Worcestershire to access recovery programmes.

For further information visit central.info@supportworks.info. For more information about the 16 days of action, please contact Kabbie Langford on 07940 371 794 or email pr@kabbielangford.co.uk.

Worcestershire’s free 24-hour helpline is run by West Mercia Women’s Aid staff and provides support, information and advice. Ring 0800 980 331 in confidence.

Locally the partnership will be working with Barnardos at Half Crown Wood Children’s Centre on the Walshes Estate, Stourport, during the 16 days.

There will be a stand at the Swan Centre on December 8 and also at Aggborough & Spennells Community Connect Christmas Fair on December 10. Activities will also be arranged in the Horsefair area of Kidderminster.

There is a definite feeling of autumn in the air and that means that Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night are around the corner.

Community Safety Partnership members Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Mercia Police have carried out special assemblies in Wyre Forest high schools to highlight bonfire and firework safety to year 7 students (aged 11 and 12) in the run-up to Bonfire Night on November 5. Halloween and the need to trick or treat responsibly is also covered.

Visit westmercia.police.uk for Hallowe’en guidelines and a downloadable poster.

HELEN DYKE Chairman