LOCAL schools, pubs and sport groups are getting behind the drive to reduce violence against women and girls.
They are working alongside Tameside Council and the charity White Ribbon, whose preventative work engages men and boys to help change attitudes and behaviours.
Every year on November 25, there is a White Ribbon Day where the campaign comes into sharp focus in the public consciousness.
This year, the theme was #ItStartsWithMen which involves challenging behaviours of males and encouraging men to hold each other to account.
The council says it is working alongside local martial arts groups to help spread awareness of the campaign and advocate its importance in the community.
As White Ribbon ‘champions’, Tameside Karate have been active ambassadors and have taken their influence to a national level, linking up with other groups to have White Ribbon stalls at competitions up and down the country.
The word has been spread locally at Curzon Ashton Football Club, where Tameside’s domestic abuse support service Bridges Partnership held a stall to promote the campaign to football fans.
Local pubs and clubs have also been displaying White Ribbon posters and beer mats – distributed by council licensing officers – to help raise awareness of the message.
“It is excellent to see the involvement of local sports groups, businesses and schools in helping to circulate the White Ribbon message,” said the council’s Executive Member for Public Health.
Councillor Tafheen Sharif added: “Tackling violence against women and girls is something we should all be working towards as a community.”