On November 25th, UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Soroptimists from Weston-super-Mare travelled by train from Taunton to Bristol Temple Meads and were joined at the station by Soroptimists from Barnstaple, Bath, Bridgwater, Bristol, Cirencester, Tiverton and Yeovil & Sherborne. Over 40 women then marched to the Lord Mayor’s Chapel opposite College Green where they were addressed by Lucy Lord of Women’s Aid which mans the Domestic Abuse helpline and Tara Newley Arkle who read a moving poem she had written about experiencing abuse.
During the train journey and the march “Loves me, “Loves me not” bookmarks were distributed to the public to highlight good and bad relationships. Many people who were spoken to that day had experienced domestic abuse at first or second hand. In addition bookmarks are being distributed to secondary schools in North Somerset as part of PSHE, thereby making students aware of behaviour which should not be accepted as a norm in a relationship.
This is the second time Weston Soroptimists have held this event and it is hoped that each year more women will join in and more awareness will be raised of this hidden abuse which leads to 2 women every week being killed by their partner or spouse.