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Rotary | FEATURE

& Ireland, ideas for ways to get involved “Today, the services and support arms Foundation to support the work.
and opportunities to increase the impact are much more professional and joined “If Rotary clubs want to be more
and to share ideas and successes. up. They certainly are in Swindon where serious about this issue, a bit like my club,
“We’ve got an experienced team who we are working closely with public sector you could get the charities to come along
are interested in starting a conversation partners. to a meeting, invite the Chief Constable,
about what is Rotary already doing and "But are we anywhere near to tackling the local authority or a social worker to
what else might it do,” explained Nicky. the root cause? talk to the club about the work they are
“How do we get Rotary members "I think we’re a million miles away doing to tackle domestic abuse on their
thinking about domestic abuse as a from all of that, which is where Rotary has patch.
serious topic and how, without trying a role to play in terms of raising awareness “You could appoint a club champion
to become experts, can we work with within their communities. who could act as a catalyst for some of the
others in our communities to increase our “I read a letter once asking why information.”
impact, in the same way as polio?” Rotary was getting involved with domestic In Swindon, the Rotarians raise
Swindon and Nottingham Rotary abuse awareness, stating it has nothing to money each Christmas for the Swindon
clubs are two good advocates of do with us. That’s ridiculous. Domestic Abuse Support Service, and
embedding domestic abuse awareness “Just think of the thousands of several club members volunteer at the
and fund-raising into their community Rotarians in Great Britain & Ireland, and charity shop each week.
activities. then recognise that one in four women On November 25, as part of White
In a policy statement, the and one in six men will be a!ected by Ribbon Day, club members will wear
Nottingham Rotarians have committed to domestic abuse at some stage in their life. white ribbon lapel badges, and join
supporting the White Ribbon campaign "Every single Rotarian will know with other members of the Swindon
– a global movement working to end someone who has been a!ected by it community to link arms around a tree
violence against women and girls pointing directly or indirectly.” with a white ribbon by the Civic O"ces.
out: “Underpinning that status is a “We have to focus our energy and
conviction that everyone has the right to e!ort on education and prevention,”
live free from abuse.” “PEOPLE ARE TALKING added Nicky.
They add: “We recognise that ABOUT DOMESTIC ABUSE “We have to stop domestic abuse
anyone, including Rotarians and their MUCH MORE, BUT ARE happening in the first place and we have
acquaintances, friends and family, can be to work with the perpetrators to change
a victim of ‘abuse against the person’ as WE TACKLING IT? their focus. I believe this has to be the
anyone can be a perpetrator of abuse.” ABSOLUTELY NOT.” focus for the future.” l
Nottingham Rotary Club will be
hosting a White Ribbon Awareness event
around White Ribbon Day on November Nicky explained that the purpose
25. Swindon Rotary Club will also be of the Domestic Abuse & Violence FIND OUT MORE
actively involved. Against the Person Team was to highlight For more information about Domestic
Domestic abuse is manifested opportunities for Rotary to make a Abuse & Violence Against the Person
through physical or sexual abuse, violent di!erence, sharing stories of where Rotary Team contact Nicky Alberry at:
or threatening behaviour, controlling or clubs can work with other organisations. rotarynicky@nickyalberry.co.uk
coercive behaviour, economic along with She added: “We’re absolutely not
psychological and emotional abuse. saying that Rotary delivers any services Useful websites:
Nicky Alberry acknowledges that because there are professionals out there whiteribbon.org.uk
although it is firmly in the public eye, doing that. What we are saying is that swadomesticabuse.org
more needs to be done. Rotary can support those organisations mensnetwork.ie
TV programmes such as Coronation who are working in this sphere.
Street and EastEnders, along with BBC “If every Rotary club reached out to
Radio’s The Archers have included a local domestic abuse support charity, a
domestic abuse in their storyline. refuge, or organisations like the NSPCC
“People are talking about domestic who are running programmes for children
abuse much more, but are we tackling it? a!ected by it, then think about the impact
Absolutely not,” added Nicky. this would have in terms of awareness and
“There's not enough money to deliver impact.
the services. “And we all know that Rotary is
"The big problem today is the really good at raising money. Small
influence of social media and the internet amounts of money make a great deal of
particularly on our young people who are di!erence to lots of these charities. We
increasingly becoming both the victims will also be sharing ideas for possible
and perpetrators of domestic abuse. District or Global grants from The Rotary

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