NOTTINGHAM’S largest domestic abuse charity Juno Women’s Aid is appealing for local businesses and organisations to back an orange-focused campaign to help end violence against women and girls.
Juno is planning a day of fundraising and awareness activity to ‘Turn Nottingham Orange’ on Monday November 27 as part of the annual worldwide 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which starts on 25 November.
Juno’s team wants to create a sea of orange – to signify solidarity and hope for a brighter future – across the city and county, with people wearing the colour or creating orange displays, then sharing images on social media. The charity hopes this will raise much-needed funds to support its vital work.
Tasarla Larner, Juno’s communications and marketing lead who is co-ordinating the charity’s campaign, said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Juno and the important work that we do, while also feeling part of something special – that we’re all aware of the issues and want to support action to tackle them.
“This is part of an international campaign to empower women and children to live a life free from abuse and to create lasting change.
“We hear these stories all the time and work hard to support women, young people, children and pets who have been impacted by domestic abuse. The demand is ever needed – nationally, 1.7m domestic abuse incidents were reported to police in the year ending March 2022.”
In 2022-23, Juno supported 2,726 women and 472 children and young people and 56 pets. The charity received nearly 16,000 helpline calls from across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, the East Midlands and nationally.
The wide range of services Juno offers includes a drop-in service, refuge provision, specialist one-to-one and community outreach support for women, children and young people, justice team support through civil and criminal court proceedings and group work programmes.
Juno’s research last year found that 97% of survivors felt the service had made a positive difference to their lives. One service user told the charity: “I feel satisfied, I feel safe, you should see the smile on my children’s faces. We can live a life that is fear-free. I feel I can say ‘no’ now. Thank you so much for your support.”
The global 16-day campaign, which began in 1991, runs from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day. Supported by the United Nations, it aims to raise awareness about violence against women and girls and its impact.
Tasarla said the charity was planning to liaise with organisations and businesses across the city to highlight the campaign and added: “It would be wonderful if people contributed in any way they can on the day.
“Businesses could hang orange flags or lights from their buildings and colleagues could put on orange-inspired food spreads. It would be wonderful if they could ask their friends, family, service users and clients to donate £2 each towards Juno for taking part in turning Nottingham orange.
“By reinforcing the message that we need to address the issue of domestic abuse, the more people might become aware of what is happening around them and feel empowered to do something to help.”
One of the businesses supporting Juno’s campaign is The Co-operative Bank. The bank will be promoting the charity’s vital work at its Clumber Street branch in the heart of Nottingham city centre, with staff set to take part in fundraising activities.
The Co-operative Bank’s customer service officer, Ellie Taylor, commented: “We’re committed to playing our part in breaking the silence around domestic abuse in all its forms. That’s why we’re proud to be supporting Juno and its campaign in raising awareness of this urgent issue both in Nottinghamshire and nationwide.”
There are various ways that people can take part in the campaign:
• Share your orange efforts on your social media platforms and tag Juno, using the hashtags #Orange4Juno and #16DaysActivism
• Find out how to donate to Juno by visiting its website at www.junowomensaid.org.uk
• To download Juno’s campaign pack to share with your networks, go to: junowomensaid.org.uk/16-days-of-activism-campaign/
• For more information about the campaign, please email Tasarla at [email protected] or call:0808 800 0340.