As part of their ongoing work within the issue of Violence Against Women, Cannock Soroptimists have launched a project which is part of The Purple Teardrop Campaign, initiated and run by SI Poole. SI Cannock have funded and produced posters and bookmarks with details of local places where help can be obtained. Up to now they have distributed almost 3,000 bookmarks. They have been distributed to
- Libraries
- Wolverhampton & Staffordshire Police
- Staffordshire Police Cadets
- High Schools & South Staffs College
- Post 16 training establishments
- Young Carers
- Substance misuse groups
- LAC
- Guide Groups
The bookmarks highlight behaviours which are – or are not – appropriate within a relationship. One side of the bookmark shows what demonstrates that the other person ‘Loves Me’ whilst the opposite side shows things which indicate the person ‘Loves Me Not’.
The aim is for the bookmarks to be given to young people – teenagers – as part of a project or within the curriculum to enable them to consider how they should be treated and how they should treat others. Young people in particular can easily become targets for the unscrupulous who see their vulnerability as a means to exploit them. The intention of providing the bookmarks is to question what makes an appropriate relationship.
The Loves Me/Loves Me Not bookmarks are a positive step in allowing people to assess the quality of new or developing relationships and provide warning signs to look for when they become the focus of special attention. The bookmarks contain information of how to contact Women’s Aid; Pathway, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and the number for Non Emergency Police.
The club has also produced some posters which show Loves Me and Loves Me Not side by side. These are being distributed and it is hoped they will be used on the inside of girl’s toilet doors.
