White Ribbon Conference 2022 ‘Time for Change’ – ending violence against women and girls

White Ribbon Conference 2022

 ‘Time for Change’ – ending violence against women and girls’

 Friday 25 November 2022

 9.30am to 4.30pm

Following the very successful White Ribbon Domestic Abuse Conferences held over the past 4 years we are pleased to announce the date for the November 2022 joint Herefordshire and Worcestershire White Ribbon Conference.

Friday 25 November 2022 9.30am to 4.30pm

The Conference titled ‘Time for Change’ – ending violence against women and girls’ will focus on ending violence against women and girls and challenging abusive behaviours.

This year in addition to welcoming colleagues from the public and voluntary and community sector, we welcome delegates from the private and commercial sector to join us – the conference is free to attend online via MS TEAMS.

Along with an update on Violence against Women and Girls and Domestic Abuse in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and where to find help and support, a number of key speakers are lined up to present including:

Nick Gazzard - Nick has built a successful 30-year career within financial services alongside a spell at Cheltenham Town Football Club. Following the murder of his daughter Hollie by her former partner, in February 2014, he felt strongly that something positive should come out of Hollie’s death and created the Hollie Gazzard Trust. Nick is determined to try and prevent similar tragedies by increasing awareness of domestic abuse and stalking and the devastating effect it causes.

Through his work with the Trust, Nick has been instrumental in developing concepts including Hollie Guard, a next-generation smartphone personal safety app. Hollie Guard is recommended by many police forces across the country, Charities and agencies for those experiencing domestic abuse and stalking.   

Michael Conroy – Men At Work C.I.C

Men At Work C.I.C. is a Community Interest Company set up to deliver transformative training in the areas of challenging sexism, supporting healthy personal development and fostering violence-free relationships and communities.

Michael Conroy (BA, MA, PGCert, PGDip, YMHFA, ASIST) spent 16 years in Secondary Education in England, delivering a wide range of citizenship and well-being programmes for students in Years 7-13 before committing full-time to Men At Work. During that time, he developed school and community-based programmes and initiatives which have been recognised by awards including a Sinnott Fellowship and a Suzy Lamplugh Young Person’s Safety Award. Since 2019, Michael has increasingly focused on developing meaningful and relevant training and resources for professionals with an interest in unpicking social influences on the values and beliefs of boys and young men – and how some of those influences can manifest in a range of problematic behaviours.

Susie Hay – Head of Research, Evaluation and Analysis at SafeLives.

SafeLives has run a 12-month research project, funded by Treebeard Trust, exploring how secondary schools are finding the delivery of the new Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum. The project included partnerships with 6 secondary schools across England, using surveys, interviews, and focus both young people and teachers. The research aims to understand the challenges teaching staff may be facing and highlight best practice, as well as consult with young people to see if the curriculum is enhancing their understanding of healthy relationships. Through survey responses and focus groups with boys, we have found RSE classes are not being received by boys and girls in the same way and that boys may feel that the content is less appealing to them. From focus groups, boys expressed wanting to learn more about how to manage their friendships and family relationships, how to avoid peer pressure to be involved in gangs or crime, how to show vulnerability, and how to behave in longer-term relationships. Boys also expressed interest in learning about emotional literacy, learning how to speak up about their feeling and about relationships in a more open way.

Val Hamilton - Area Manager, Victim Support - Visual Evidence for Victims (VEV) – Empowering victims

Val Hamilton is the Area Manager for Victim Support’s services across West Mercia and West Midlands. Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting anyone affected by crime, whether or not that crime has been reported to the police. Recognising the complex reasons why someone may not wish to immediately report a crime is why Victim Support is introducing the Visual Evidence for Victims service. This service provides the opportunity to preserve certain evidence until a victim of crime feels ready to report.

More information and further speakers to be announced shortly.