THE upper Calder Valley has stood up and spoken out against domestic violence.
Fantastic support from readers of the Hebden Bridge Times and Todmorden News meant the newspapers hit their target of getting 500 upper Calder Valley residents to sign the White Ribbon Campaign’s anti-domestic violence pledge by the end of 2012.
Chris Green, founder of the Mytholmroyd-based national charity, said: “In December 2011, we had fewer than 2,000 pledges on our website, although we had been collecting pledges for the previous three years. Now 10,557 men have vowed not to remain silent about violence against women.
“This is a national figure, and the huge local increase in supporters, of around 500 new pledgers, has been due to the continued campaign by our two local newspapers.
“Pledging support for our campaign is the first small step in challenging and eradicating violence against women throughout the community.”
Among the people who have signed up to the campaign were West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson, Calderdale and Hebden Royd Town Councillors and actor Tom Milner.
Many local groups and organisations also vowed to speak up against domestic violence, including Hebden Bridge Rats Motorcycle Club, Walsden Cricket Club and Hebden Bridge Trades Club.
John Greenwood, Head of Content at the Hebden Bridge Times and Todmorden News, said: “I am delighted with the success of this campaign. As community newspapers, it is the role of the Hebden Bridge Times and Todmorden News to do all they can to highlight important issues, such as domestic violence, in the hope of eradicating them. I’d like to thank our readers for their fantastic support throughout this campaign. Hopefully, this campaign has also helped raised the profile of the fantastic and important work that is being done by The White Ribbon Campaign.”
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