The annual campaign, coordinated by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership and the City of Wolverhampton Council, 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 advice and support that is available to victims from local and national organisations such as The Haven Wolverhampton, St George's Hub, Karma Nirvana and the council.
Addressing the crowd which had gathered for the closing ceremony outside the Civic Centre on Tuesday (10 December, 2024), Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: "Each year, we see our campaign grow and this year has been no exception – with more and more local people, schools, faith groups, charities, businesses, and other organisations helping to ‘Orange Wolverhampton’.
"Thank you to everyone that has been involved. It has been wonderful to see so many different activities taking place – from ribbon making contributions to buildings turning orange around the city.
“There have been drop in sessions in communities, lunch and learn sessions for professionals, craft sessions, round table discussions, coffee mornings, partnership meetings, and an awareness walk around the city centre to name a few.
"We have heard the stories of some of the women who have experienced domestic abuse, and have had the privilege of seeing artwork that has been produced by victim survivors in our city.
"Whilst many are filled with messages of hope for the future, they have stood as a stark reminder of the profound and long lasting impact domestic abuse can have on local people, their families and the wider community.
"There is much work that, together, we still need to do to – to keep victims safe and to support their recovery, to hold perpetrators to account, to intervene earlier to limit the impact of domestic abuse, and to prevent it from happening in the first place.
"So, while today marks the end of the campaign period, it is also a key milestone in reaffirming our continued commitment for the year ahead. Together, we will continue to raise awareness of and respond to violence against women and girls in all its forms, to ensure that Wolverhampton is a safe and healthy place for people to live, work and grow up in."
Pamilerin Beckley from The Haven Wolverhampton added: "I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to a successful Orange Wolves for 2024.
"Whether you delivered a lunch and learn, ran a social media campaign, met the community at the Mander Centre, held a fundraising event, wore an orange ribbon, whatever no matter how big or small, it will go a long way towards raising awareness and making a difference.
"All our work is interconnected, and it is only by working together that we will begin to see the end of this epidemic that plagues our society.
"But while these 16 days may formally end, the work we are called to do must continue – every day, every week, every month of the year."
Dr Surwat Sohail, CEO of ROSHNI, which organised the walk, said: "The orange flag stands for courage — the courage to take action in the face of adversity, to stand up for what is right, and to work together toward a brighter future.
"It also represents warmth, energy and enthusiasm — the spirit that drives us forward in our efforts to make a meaningful difference in our community. It is a reminder that each of us has a role to play in shaping the future we want to see.
"Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities and bring about positive change in our lives and for those around us."
The Orange Wolverhampton campaign is held annually between 25 November, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and 10 December, UN Human Rights Day. It supports the UN Orange the World campaign to end violence against women and girls but, in Wolverhampton, there is a strong focus on ending interpersonal violence against all individuals, whether they are female or male.
For more information, please visit Orangewolves. To see pictures from the campaign, visit the Orange Wolverhampton Flickr gallery.
