The annual Orange Wolverhampton campaign, which begins on Saturday (25 November), aims to raise awareness of the city’s continuing drive to end domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so called honour based violence, sexual violence and stalking and harassment.
At the same time, it highlights the help and support that is available to victims from local and national organisations such as The Haven, St George's Hub, Karma Nirvana and the City of Wolverhampton Council.
The campaign runs from 25 November, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until 10 December, UN Human Rights Day, and supports the UN Orange the World campaign to end violence against women and girls. In Wolverhampton, there is a strong focus on ending interpersonal violence against all individuals, whether they are female or male.
This year’s campaign includes a variety of online and in person events to enable as many people as possible to get involved, and will begin with a flag raising ceremony outside the Civic Centre on Friday (24 November) at 10am. All are welcome.
There will be an Orange Wolverhampton pop up stand at the Mander Centre on Monday 27 November from 9.30am to 5pm and Tuesday 28 November from 10am to 4.30pm and an information day at the Civic Centre on Wednesday 29 November from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
St George’s Hub will be hosting a coffee morning on Thursday 30 November from 10am to noon to raise awareness of the support available to male victims of interpersonal violence.
Animal charities Refuge4Pets, Cats Protection and the Dog’s Trust will be holding a workshop on animal abuse as a strategy of coercive control and animal fostering services on Thursday 7 December from 1pm to 3.30pm, the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership is holding a free webinar offering an introduction to Ending Male Violence Against Women and Girls on Friday 8 December at 10am while, that same evening, community organisations and Councillor Jas Dehar have arranged an awareness raising session at the Civic Centre from 6pm featuring a number of specialist speakers.
There will also be a series of ‘lunch and learn’ sessions delivered by specialist guest speakers including ones focusing on supporting women and girls at risk of online harm and tech abuse, the effects of domestic abuse on children, female genital mutilation, so called honour based abuse and forced marriage, sexual violence and supporting male victims of domestic abuse.
The programme ends with a flag lowering ceremony at the Civic Centre on Sunday 10 December.
Scores of organisations across Wolverhampton are set to support this year’s campaign in a range of ways, from holding ‘wear orange’ days, wearing orange pin badges, turning their websites and social media channels orange, lighting their buildings orange, flying orange flags, sharing key messages about the campaign with staff, customers and service users, and much more.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: "The Orange Wolverhampton campaign is a great way for us to all say ‘no’ to interpersonal violence and help raise awareness of the help and support available to victims and survivors in Wolverhampton.
“We’re hoping that thousands of people will get involved again this year, perhaps by holding or joining one of the many events that will be taking place across the city, or visiting the Orange Wolverhampton pop up stand which will be open in the Mander Centre and Civic Centre next week.”
The Orange Wolverhampton campaign is co-ordinated by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action, and the council.
Richard Fisher, Chair of the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together Board, said: "The colour orange in this context symbolises a brighter future and a world free from gender based violence, and the Orange Wolverhampton campaign is an important part of our work to make sure victims know how to get the help and support they need. Please get involved and together let us turn Wolverhampton Orange!”
For more information and to sign up to this year’s campaign, please visit the Orange Wolverhampton website to find details of events and resources, and to add any events you or your organisation is planning.
Anyone suffering from domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so called ‘honour based’ violence or sexual violence, or knows someone who is, should call the relevant helpline:
- The Haven Wolverhampton 24 hour helpline for women - 08000 194400
- St George’s Hub support for male victims - 01902 421904
- Karma Nirvana helpline for victims of so called ‘honour based’ violence and forced marriage - 0800 5999 247
- Wolverhampton Adult Social Care - 01902 551199
- Wolverhampton Children's Social Care - 01902 555392
- West Midlands Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence Helpline - 0800 953 9777
- National Domestic Violence helpline for women - 0808 2000 247
- National Domestic Violence helpline for men - 0808 8010327
- NSPCC Female Genital Mutilation helpline - 0800 028 3550
- In an emergency, always call police on 999
For more information about the work of Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, please visit Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together.
