Wolverhampton residents urged to 'wear orange' to help end domestic abuse on campaign day this week

People are being invited to wear a pop of orange on Thursday to show their support for this year's Orange Wolverhampton campaign.

Launched in 2015, Orange Wolverhampton aims to raise awareness of the continuing drive to end all domestic abuse, including physical abuse, coercive control, financial abuse, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called honour-based abuse, and stalking and harassment.

Reinforcing the message that there is #NoExcuse for violence against women, girls, men and boys, local organisations have joined together to champion the support available across the city and raise awareness for the campaign.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: "We are not only turning our city orange, we are also asking you to go orange and say ‘no’ to interpersonal violence, so please show your support by wearing something orange on Thursday.

"It doesn't need to be a full outfit, or even a top, an orange ribbon, badge or scarf would be symbolic of your backing for the campaign."

As well as Thursday's Wear Orange day, this year’s campaign includes a variety of events to enable as many people as possible to get involved, beginning with a flag raising ceremony outside the Civic Centre on Tuesday at 10.30am.

There will also be an Orange Wolverhampton information stand at the Mander Centre on Tuesday, December 9 from 10am to 3.30pm, with staff on hand to raise awareness and hand out orange ribbons for people to wear in support of the campaign.

Full details of all the events taking place during the campaign are now available on the Orange Wolverhampton website.

Wolverhampton Council have also provided a list of organisations which can help people suffering from domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour-based’ abuse:

• The Haven Wolverhampton freephone helpline for women – 08000 194400, WhatsApp helpline – 07719 558153, Live Chat – www.havenrefuge.org.uk (WhatsApp and Live Chat available Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm)

• St. George’s House Charity support for men – 01902 421904, www.st-georges-house.org.uk

• Karma Nirvana helpline for victims of ‘honour-based’ violence and forced marriage –  0800 5999 247, https://karmanirvana.org.uk/

• Wolverhampton Adult Social Care – 01902 551199 (out of hours 01902 552999)

• Wolverhampton Children's Social Care – 01902 555392 (out of hours 01902 552999)

• Wolverhampton Homes – 01902 556789, www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk.

• National Domestic Abuse helpline – 0808 2000 247

• NSPCC Female Genital Mutilation helpline – 0800 028 3550, www.nspcc.org.uk

• Wolverhampton LGBT+ – https://linktr.ee/W.LGBT

• Sikh Women's Aid – 0333 090 1220, www.sikhwomensaid.org.uk

• ROSHNI Birmingham – 24-hour multi-lingual forced marriage and honour-based abuse helpline – 0800 953 9777, www.roshnibirmingham.org.uk

• Dorcas – 07462 837349, https://dorcasuk.com/

The Orange Wolverhampton campaign runs from November 25, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, until December 10, which is UN Human Rights Day, and supports the United Nations’ Orange the World 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women and girls. 

It is co-ordinated by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership and the council.