Published: Friday, 25th November 2022
As an Accredited organisation, Oldham Council will develop and deliver a comprehensive Action Plan to change the cultures that lead to abuse and violence, and promote gender equality.
Some of the actions that have been taken already include organising training sessions on domestic abuse, misogyny and sexual harassment. The council also recruited male ambassadors and female champions from around the organisation to pledge individually how they will both personally and professionally work toward ending male violence against women.
Amanda Chadderton, Oldham Council Leader, said: “There’s no place in Oldham for violence against women in any form. Sadly, we know the reality is that this type of violence is all too common. This is why Oldham Council is doing everything we can to change this and I’m proud to see that commitment has been reflected in our White Ribbon Accreditation.
“We know changing attitudes and behaviours doesn’t happen overnight and that’s why this is a year-round campaign for us. We owe it to the women and girls of our town to make sure they have a safe place to grow up and live in. We’re going to keep working, with the help of our Ambassadors and Champions, to make this happen.”
We achieved Accredited status through work including:
- Delivering education to children and young people in schools about healthy relationships
- Commissioning a behaviour change programme for people who have been perpetrators of domestic abuse
- Strengthening the support offer for victims of domestic abuse, with a team of seven Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and a specialist worker for so called Honour-Based Abuse
- Increasing the provision of safe accommodation for victims of domestic abuse and their children
- Bringing in a council Domestic Abuse policy to ensure that any staff who discloses domestic abuse get appropriate support.
White Ribbon is a global campaign that encourages people, and especially men and boys, to individually and collectively take action and change the behaviour and culture that leads to abuse and violence. To wear a white ribbon is to promise to never to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women.
Anthea Sully, Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK said, “White Ribbon Accredited organisations are able to make a real difference towards ending violence against women by promoting a culture of respect and equality, among their staff and wider communities.
"By raising awareness among employees, people can learn how to become allies and call out violent and abusive behaviour when they see it, at work and in the wider community.
"We are delighted to welcome Oldham Council as one of our White Ribbon Accredited organisations and are looking forward to working with them towards ending violence against women once and for all."