25th November is the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Members of Clubs in the South West & Channel Islands region have travelled on the railway network calling attention to this by wearing orange and handing out Love Me, Love Me Not bookmarks. These bookmarks list the signs of both healthy and unhealthy relationships. The 10,000 bookmarks were paid for with a grant from the Avon & Somerset PCC’s Community Action Fund. The action is called Railing Against Abuse and was started by SI Weston-Super-Mare a few years ago.
This event has grown in numbers and publicity and this year, 2017, Soroptimists travelled to Bristol and were joined by the Lord Mayor, Sue Mountstevens (Police and Crime Commissioner) and Dame Joan Collins and her daughter Tara Arkle.
The march which was the lead item on BBC Points West in that evening’s news. Here is a snippet, courtesy of BBBC Points West Facebook page.
You can also view a video of the speeches in the Mayor’s Chapel on the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner’s Facebook page Soroptimists railing against abuse. Important information on timings during this 30 minutes video: Bristol Lord Mayor to 2:10, Sue Mountstevens (A&S PCC) to 6:40, Jodi Collett from Victim Support to 15:30, Tara Arkle to 21:00 and then Dame Joan Collins.
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