White Ribbon Working Group

To promote the White Ribbon values and behaviours as a White Ribbon Town Council. White Ribbon UK was founded in 2005 and is part of a global movement to end men’s violence against women. It is a charity that works with men and boys to challenge those male cultures that lead to harassment, abuse and violence.  Our Congleton goal is ‘to eradicate men’s violence against women and all gender-based violence and abuse’.

Our White Ribbon Priorities are:

• Strategic Leadership- Ensuring policy and practice is compatible with the behaviours required, and creating White Ribbon Ambassadors
• Engagement – Awareness for Councillors and staff, and reaching out more widely e.g.- through partnership with other organisations.
• Culture- Taking action to stamp out sexism and a willingness to report and deal with inappropriate behaviours.
• Raising Awareness- Outreach into the wider community through a broader Communications Plan, encouraging other organisations to become White Ribbon Accredited or Supporter Organisations.

• • Connection made with Crewe Town Council which has become White Ribbon Accredited. The teams plan to share ideas and resources.

• • Congleton High School Students in years 12 and 13 took part in a White Ribbon and Active Bystander training – December 2023 – run by Jonathan Dakin and Mike Wesley

• • White Ribbon Campaign in November/December 2023 featured videos, media, social media and outdoor promotion

• • Cllr Mark Edwardson presented on White Ribbon at the NALC (National Association of Local Councils) National Assembly.

• • Congleton Town Council took part in the NALC and the CEC/myCWA White Ribbon Campaign Videos

• • Cllr Richard Walton and Peter Munro attended the White Ribbon Cheshire Conference

• • Cllr Richard Walton attended the national White Ribbon Conference

• • The White Ribbon Team had stalls at Astbury Mere and Congleton Town Centre in summer 2023

• • Cllr Wesley helped NALC become White Ribbon Accredited

• • Eaton Bank Academy students in years 12 and 13 took part in a White Ribbon session in January 2023 delivered by Mike Wesley, Jonathan Dakin and Cllr Kay Wesley. The presentation encouraged students to challenge sexism and harassment, and join the White Ribbon Campaign. Read more: Students encouraged to be Active Bystanders

White Ribbon Day 2023

The Congleton team had a stall at the Christmas Lights Switch on and the November Maker’s Market and there were activities throughout the ’16 days of activism’ against violence, including:

• • Outdoor Awareness Campaign

• • Ambassador Letters to the Congleton Chronicle

• • White Ribbon Conferences

• • Video campaign with young people, Ambassadors, clergy and Police

• • Videos for myCWA and NALC

• • Press coverage

• • Social Media and Online

You can read more in our White Ribbon 2023 Report:

This group collaborates with the following:

• myCWA- formerly Cheshire Without Abuse
• Cheshire East Council
• Congleton Partnership
• Schools in the Congleton area
• Pubs, clubs and sports groups
• The group has a Facebook Group for men who want to discuss strategies to talk about VAWG in their peer groups. See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/congletonwhiteribbon
• Support organisations as required to promote behaviours compatible with White Ribbon.