These Palms Don’t Punch: MK ACT White Ribbon Day
One woman in four experience domestic violence in their lifetime and two women are killed each week by a current or former partner in England and Wales.
MK ACT is a charity, which works with over 100 families’ everyday to help them move on from fear and abuse. They have been providing safe emergency accommodation for women and children for over 40 years. MK ACT has joined forces with London’s only professional basketball team, the London Lions, to take a stand to end violence against women.
On the 25th November, the world marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, also known as White Ribbon Day. From then until the 10th December, we encourage everybody to take part in the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence.
Join us on 25th November for the 16 Days of Activism, and every day until we live in a world safe for all.
On the 16th Day of Activism, the London Lions are in the BBL Cup Semi Finals at the Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park. The players will be wearing their White Ribbon Day T Shirts to warm up in and there will be a collection for MK ACT during the game. The Lions have also donated 200 tickets to MK ACT and other women’s refuges in London for families to come and watch their game.
Over the 16 days, Lions’ players will deliver messages of support in celebration of White Ribbon Day and against ending violence against women. The players have described how they use their hands to do good and not to hurt.
Lions forward Brandon Peel has vast experience in working with Domestic Abuse Charities during college in America. He worked at Interval House in Central Connecticut and has protested against violence against women for many years. As well as leading outreach programmes, he also helped at the centre doing gardening and DIY.
Brandon said “It’s my duty to give back to the community and help against violence against women. It’s such a huge issue. I am a firm believer in Karma and you have to feel good, to play good. I want to keep helping people in the UK as I did in the States. Someone once said alone we can do so little, but together we can achieve so much. This is how I feel about White Ribbon Day and I urge all the Lions fans to take a stand and make a pledge”.
Lions Captain Joe Ikhinmwin added, “We are proud to stand tall with Brandon. The team and I feel men and boys have a crucial role to play in creating a culture where male violence, abuse and harassment against women and girls are simply seen as unacceptable”.
There are many ways you can help:
- Make your pledge and retweet the Lions Lions’ White Ribbon Day campaign (@London_Lions ) and make your own pledge to end violence against women
- Come to the London Lions, Cup Semi Final on Friday 10th December at the Copper Box Arena and give what you can to the bucket collection
- Donate to MK ACT online via Local Giving:
http://www.localgiving.org.uk/mk-act - Wear your white ribbon with pride
Sue Burke, Chief Executive of MK ACT said “It’s amazing that the London Lions are supporting MK ACT and White Ribbon Day this year. Violence against Women and Girls touches all our lives and has a devastating impact those who experience it. With London Lions standing alongside those who are affected may empower them to come forward to seek help.”
END
Notes to editor:
For more information on MK ACT visit: www.mkact.com
For more information on White Ribbon Day click here: http://www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk/
For tickets to join the Lions on the 10th December visit: www.ticketmaster.co.uk/londonlions
To find your local Women’s Aid service please click on the link below
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-abuse-directory/
National Domestic Violence Helpline number is 0808 2000 247, this is a free phone helpline. A 24 hours a day, 7 days a week helpline for women experiencing domestic violence.
Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic abuse. the free phone helpline number is 0808 801 0327. This is a Monday to Friday 9am-5pm service.
Please Note: if you fear for your safety in any way than contact the police immediately on 999.
The Facts
One woman in four experiences domestic violence in her lifetime (Office for National Statistics (2016) Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences, 2014/15) and
two women are killed each week by a current or former partner in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics (2016) Compendium – Homicide (average taken over 10 years).
In the year ending March 2016, 1.2 million women reported experiences of domestic abuse in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics (2016) Domestic Abuse in England and Wales: year ending March 2016).
