The annual Orange Wolverhampton campaign, which begins on 25 November, aims to raise awareness of the city’s continuing drive to end domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, ‘honour-based’ violence, sexual violence and stalking and harassment. The Safer Wolverhampton Partnership acknowledge that these crimes are being robustly tackled in the city, regardless of the sex of the victim, whilst recognising that the majority of victims are female.
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 Friday 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.
This year’s campaign will involve a blend 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 25 November.
Scores of organisations across Wolverhampton are expected to take part 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 Public Health 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 on 28 and 29 November.”
The Orange Wolverhampton campaign is coordinated by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action, and the council.
Chief Superintendent 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’s turn Wolverhampton Orange!”
For more information and to sign up to this year’s campaign, please visit the Orange Wolverhampton website at OrangeWolves 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
- Haven Counselling helpline - 08000 308 345 (Mon, Wed, Thurs, Friday 9am to 2pm)
- Haven online Live Chat (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
- 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.
