They are holding a range of events over the next few weeks to raise awareness of the campaign, which aims to end 'interpersonal violence', including domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour based’ violence, sexual violence and stalking and harassment.
From Monday (25 November), Central Library will host an exhibition of art work, I Am Because We Are, created by women who have been supported by The Haven, the Wolverhampton charity which provides practical and emotional support to women and children affected by domestic abuse and homelessness. The exhibition will be on display throughout the Orange Wolverhampton campaign, which continues until Tuesday 10 December.
Also on Monday, Central Library will hold a coffee morning from 10.30am, with all proceeds going to The Haven. The library will host a further coffee morning from 10.30am on Friday 6 December to raise awareness of the work of St George's Hub, which supports male victims of domestic abuse.
All 16 libraries in Wolverhampton will be collection points for donations of
toiletries, dried and tinned food, nappies and household cleaning products which will be distributed to The Haven and St George's Hub. Meanwhile, library staff will be invited to ditch their uniform and ‘go orange’ on Wear Orange day, Friday 6 December.
Kathy Cole-Evans, Chief Officer of Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum, said: "We would like to say a big thank you to our city's libraries which are playing a key role in the Orange Wolverhampton campaign once more this year.
"Not only are they helping raise awareness of the campaign and of the work of The Haven and St George's Hub, but they are also enabling people to donate items such as toiletries to people supported by these two very important charities."
Meanwhile, residents, businesses, schools, churches, voluntary groups and other organisations are encouraged to turn the city orange between 25 November and 10 December.
Over 100 organisations took part in 2018's campaign, holding wear orange days, turning their websites and social media channels orange, sharing key messages about the campaign with staff, customers and service users, staging orange marches, organising orange cake sales or coffee mornings, lighting their buildings orange, flying orange flags and much more.
Thousands of people also showed their support by wearing orange ribbons throughout the 16 day campaign, coordinated by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum and the City of Wolverhampton Council.
Key dates include Wear Orange Day on Friday 6 December, when people are encouraged to wear orange clothing, and the return of the Orange Wolverhampton pop up shop in the Wulfrun Centre on Monday and Tuesday 25 and 26 November, at which people will be able to find out more about the campaign and the help and support available locally.
Steve Dodd, from Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, said: "We want to make this year's campaign the best ever – and this is your chance to get involved. There are so many things you can do, big and small, all of which will help raise awareness of these issues."
For more information and to sign up to this year’s campaign, please visit the Orange Wolverhampton website.
Anyone suffering from domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour based’ violence, sexual violence, stalking or harassment, 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 (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9am to 2pm)
- Haven online Live Chat (Monday to Friday, 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
For more detailed local information please visit Wolverhampton Safeguarding. In an emergency, always call police on 999.
