On Wednesday 22nd November Oswestry Town Council demonstrated its support of White Ribbon Day by hosting a White Ribbon market stall by Guildhall.

The stall welcomed local supporters including West Mercia Women’s Aid, Os Nosh, Cae Glas Cricket Club, Be a Better Fish, West Mercia Police, Oswestry Library, Shropshire Council, The New Saints Football Club and many local residents. Market traders also got involved and stall holders proudly wore white ribbons throughout the day to raise awareness of this important campaign.

Oswestry Town Council is a ‘White Ribbon’ accredited organisation, which is a global initiative whose mission is to prevent violence against women and girls by addressing its root causes. It aims to end violence before it starts by changing long established, and harmful, attitudes, systems and behaviours around masculinity that perpetuate gender inequality and men’s violence against women.

White Ribbon Day takes place on the 25th of November and this year everyone is asked to make consistent choices and actions so that we can #ChangeTheStory so that women and girls can live their lives free from the fear of violence and abuse.

Following on from the stall, there will be a display in Guildhall reception until Monday 27th November with plenty of ribbons and small leaflets, if members of the public would like more information.

Oswestry Town Mayor, Councillor Olly Rose, said “Thank you to everyone who kindly took time out of their day to support our market stall. We have also received several messages from local organisations, schools and businesses who will be sharing information among their employees, students and volunteers to get the message out that male violence against women must end.  All men and boys can make a difference by thinking of their own behaviour and being prepared to call out sexist and harassing behaviour when they see it.”

For more information visit the website https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/promise

Follow White Ribbon UK on twitter: @WhiteRibbon_UK. #whiteribbonday #changethestory

Picture credit: Graham Mitchell.