Supporting the White Ribbon campaign against domestic violence

Members of our 0-19 Healthy Together service in Leicester City are supporting the national White Ribbon campaign which raises
awareness of domestic violence, particularly against women. Over the next two weeks, the team, which includes public health nurses (health visitors and school nurses) and Healthy Child Programme practitioners, will be working alongside Leicester City Council’s Early Help team to talk to members of the public in the east of the City about relevant local services.

As well as promoting healthy relationships, the team will be providing advice and support to anyone affected by domestic violence, and will be encouraging people to make a pledge not to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence towards women.

Harriet Mashingaidze and Claire Robinson (pictured above) are health visitors in the east of the City and said: “Anyone can experience domestic abuse. It can happen in all kinds of relationships regardless of age, race, gender identity, sexuality, disability, wealth or lifestyle, and may be physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse. We know that one in four women suffers domestic abuse or domestic violence at some point in their lives, and we’re hoping that through this campaign we can reach and help some of those women.”

The White Ribbon UK annual campaign (www.whiteribbon.org.uk) has been running since 2005. It starts each year on 25 November which is the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and encourages 16 days of positive action. Anyone experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence can get help from United against Violence and Abuse (UAVA) which has a confidential helpline: 0808 80 200 28.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) provides community health, mental health and learning disabilities services for the one million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We have a budget in excess of £275 million and employ approximately 5,500 staff. For more information visit: www.leicspart.nhs.uk.

Healthy Together is the name for LPT’s 0-19 public health nursing offer for children, young people and families across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and is commissioned by Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and Rutland County Council. The service also runs a confidential secure text messaging service, Chat Health, which operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. All texts will be responded to by a public health nurse (health visitor/school nurse) within 24 hours. For Leicester City the text number is 07520
615381.

Raising Health is our registered charity (number 1057361) which raises funds to support LPT’s excellent care initiatives, equipment and innovations which go above and beyond core NHS provision, to enhance the experience of our patients, service users and staff. www.raisinghealth.org.uk

For further information contact: Rosie Huckle, Communications Manager for Families, Young People and Children’s Services, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Tel: 0116 295 0924, Email: rosie.huckle@leicspart.nhs.uk