Going for White Ribbon Accreditation at Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council
Amanda Carter-Philpott, past Chair, member and now a Town Cllr at Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council is delighted that in mid August, Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council voted unanimously to support my proposal to pursue White Ribbon Accreditation.
As a resident who has lived here since 1985, Amanda was horrified to discover Bletchley and Fenny Stratford is one of the most dangerous small towns to live in Buckinghamshire according to crime statistics. The most common crimes in our community are sexual and violent offences so clearly this is an area in which we need to actively engage to promote a safer environment for all. Accreditation with White Ribbon will drive social change, strengthen gender equality and stop male violence against women in our community and organisations by training staff to recognise and address gender-based violence.
The proposal to become White Ribbon accredited was done with the support of the community in Bletchley & Fenny Stratford, especially women, who came forward to share the need for ending violence against women and girls to be made a priority in Milton Keynes. Karen, mother of two told us:
”I called you from the hospital to say thank you – you taught me how to say NO and mean it.”
Christine, a single parent said: “I absolutely will not lose my daughter to the same vicious cycle of abuse…I am choosing better for us both.”
Debbie: “My journey to freedom is not over and it may never be but I know now there are people who will stand by me however often I stumble.”
The Town Council’s next steps will be to form a steering group to develop and take forward an action plan that meets core criteria in strategic leadership, engaging with men and boys, raising awareness and changing culture. They will also be registering for ambassador and champion training with White Ribbon UK. Amanda is submitting a proposal to get Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council accredited as a White Ribbon organisation and am also hoping for communal support for this endeavour. Already she has the support from the Police, Youth Information Service, and is in discussions with Milton Keynes College. Amanda is hopeful that accreditation can take place during the annual 16 days of activism to end violence against women and girls, which runs from 25th November to 10th December.
White Ribbon History in brief – The campaign was conceived as an education and awareness-raising effort devoted to engaging men and boys to think about their attitudes and behaviour and challenge all forms of men’s violence against women. The campaign asks men to wear white ribbons as a pledge to “never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.” Hereafter known as the White Ribbon Promise. https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk
In the words of founder Michael Kaufman: “Men have been defined as part of the problem. But the White Ribbon Campaign believes that men can also be part of the solution. Confronting men’s violence requires nothing less than a commitment to full equality for women and a redefinition of what it means to be men, to discover a meaning to manhood that does not require blood to be spilled.”