Thousands of children in Hull will promise “never to commit, excuse, or stay silent about abuse or bullying” starting today.
To mark White Ribbon Day, pupils at Green Way Academy have today been visited by a White Ribbon-themed fire engine and police car.
The school will be one of 26 in the city to be visited by Hull City Council, Hull Domestic Abuse Partnership, Humberside Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner office and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to raise awareness of domestic abuse.
Children in Class SR have been looking at ‘Speaking Out and saying No!’ @WhiteRibbon_UK we discussed domestic abuse before enjoying our White Ribbon Police care experience 🚓 pic.twitter.com/6VKfNFUMTf
— Bridgeview Special School (@Bridgeview_Hull) 10 December 2018
Children will have the opportunity to discuss and explore gender equality, understanding respectful, healthy relationships, bullying and domestic abuse.
They will be involved in activities around the theme “These hands are not for hurting” before being given the chance to sign the promise.
Five years since Hull first became a White Ribbon city, organisations across Hull have been working together closely to raise awareness and support victims of domestic abuse.
Last year, the initiative saw 14,500 children involved, with 23,000 children, visitors and teaching staff across the city signing up to the promise.
Local Authorities: Join Hull City Council (@Hullccnews) in gaining White Ribbon Status and work towards safer communities #WhiteRibbon #Accreditation #SaferCommunities pic.twitter.com/12Qlo4lHzL
— White Ribbon UK (@WhiteRibbon_UK) 27 February 2019
Vicki Paddison, strategic domestic abuse services manager, said: “By encouraging our children and young people to pledge never to commit, excuse, or stay silent about abuse or bullying, we are working to address views and attitudes from an early age, which we hope will reduce domestic abuse across the city in the longer term.
“The White Ribbon, whether as a pin-badge or on a fire engine, acts as a symbolic reminder of the pledge that people make.”
Simon Bush, headteacher at Green Way Academy, said: “The Green Way Academy is really proud to be part of the White Ribbon campaign for the third year in a row. Our children really enjoy this event and, as a school, we feel that it has a positive impact on delivering the message that it is not acceptable to hurt anyone.
“We hope that by schools working in conjunction with other agencies, the number of domestic incident reports reduce.”
Sign the promise here.
