Launch of the 2022 Not in my Name campaign at the Royal Welsh Show

The 2022 Not in my Name campaign was launched on the WI stand at the Royal Welsh Show on 19 July. The event was attended by a range of stakeholders including the FUW, NFU Cymru, the DPJ Foundation, CLA Wales, Wales YFC, Cytûn, the Fire Brigade Union, the Wales Rural and Wildlife Crime Police Coordinator, and the Welsh Association of Male Choirs.

NFWI-Wales Chair Eirian Roberts introduced the Not in my Name campaign. Established in 2012 with Joyce Watson MS, the campaign involves the recruitment of male ambassadors in raising awareness and making the White Ribbon pledge to ‘never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women’. Joyce Watson MS reinforced the urgency of taking action to end violence against women and highlighted the additional challenges faced by survivors in rural communities.

Ian Rickman, Deputy President of the FUW spoke of the FUW’s support for the campaign and its commitment to raise awareness and train all its staff to better understand domestic abuse and how to signpost people to specialist support.

Neil Evans, Station Manager and Deputy Head of Community Safety for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service stated that all staff were trained in safeguarding. Neil highlighted that since Covid, the number of safeguarding referrals had tripled. The Service, which was a White Ribbon accredited organisation, had 10 ambassadors.

Ruth Dodsworth, who was in an abusive relationship for nearly 20 years, said that at the time she did not recognise that she was being abused.  Ruth has been raising awareness of coercive control and sharing her own experiences to inspire other survivors to come forward and seek advice and support. She has also provided feedback and training to the police in recognising the signs of domestic abuse. Ruth highlighted the importance of working together to eliminate domestic abuse. Having those important conversations could save someone’s life.

In their closing comments, Eirian Roberts and Joyce Watson MS urged stakeholders to use their networks to raise awareness about violence against women and called on more ambassadors to come forward to pledge their support.

Further information about the Not in my Name campaign is available here.

Organisations and groups with an interest in supporting the campaign can contact Sarah Thomas at the NFWI-Wales Office to find out more about opportunities to get involved.  Email: s.thomas@nfwi-wales.org.uk