Ashfield District Council successful in achieving extension of White Ribbon Accreditation

Ashfield District Council has confirmed that it has been successful in extending its White Ribbon Accreditation until November 2025.

Gaining the accreditation shows organisations' commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

As part of the accreditation process, the Council has reviewed their internal procedures, provided training to staff, and updated their domestic abuse policy to ensure robust measures have been put in place to safeguard and support survivors of domestic abuse.

To support this agenda, the Council's Community Safety Team has secured over £90,000 for 2022/2023 which comprises of £33,761 for domestic abuse statutory duty funding for safe accommodation and £60,000 for supporting survivors of domestic abuse, and delivery of the Sanctuary Scheme. The scheme is a homelessness prevention initiative to enable survivors of domestic abuse to remain in their home by increasing the security of the premises.

The Council will be working in partnership with domestic abuse services and Nottinghamshire Police to deliver these activities over the course of the year and support mechanisms have been put in place to assist vulnerable residents through a dedicated Vulnerable Adult Support Scheme. This is a multi-agency team established to support those at significant risk.

Councillor Jason Zadrozny, Leader of the Council said: "We are so proud to be an accredited advocate for White Ribbon. The funding will be available to support residents, who through no fault of their own have become subject (to) domestic abuse. The training provided to our Officers has provided them additional skills they need to support survivors of domestic abuse. This is an issue we take very seriously as a Council, and we take a zero tolerance approach to this kind of behaviour."

Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Community Safety and Crime Reduction, Councillor Helen-Ann Smith said: "Unfortunately domestic abuse can happen at any time and to anyone regardless of background. There is no place for these behaviours and attitudes in our communities and it will continue to be a priority for the Council."

In November 2022, the Council marked White Ribbon Day on 25 November by coming together with members of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Nottinghamshire Police and members of Council to show their support for the initiative by lighting up Ada Lovelace House in Kirkby.

This was followed by the '16 Days of Activism' awareness campaign, a community awareness campaign with NIDAS, Switch Up, Nottinghamshire Police and Fire and Rescue Service. They visited various venues throughout the area including Under One Roof, on Vine Terrace in Hucknall, with the aim of engaging with the community to have conversations about healthy relationships, personal safety and signposting.