www.mybracknell.co.uk
NEWS
december 2023
31
Heart-warming story sees resident reunited with sentimental ring
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taff at re3 Recycling Centre have a truly heart-warming story to share with readers – just in time for the holiday season! The team at the re3 Recycling Centres managed to recover a sentimental gold ring from one of the bottle banks. A spokesman said: “The ring unfortunately slipped from the finger of a resident while recycling glass after a community event in Twyford. We are so pleased that the ring is now reunited with its owner! “This wonderful story certainly gives us all a big smile and is also the perfect opportunity to remind you that the festive season is a peak recycling time for the glass bottles. Residents of Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Boroughs can recycle their glass bottles and jars at the bottle banks located near parks, community centres or supermarkets. To find the nearest banks, please check the re3 bottle bank map https:// bit.ly/re3banks
Vigil to end violence against women WORDS BY JACKY HAYLER PHOTOS BY PAUL KING
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n Saturday, Bracknell Forest Council, in partnership with local charities Berkshire Women’s Aid and Kaleidoscopic UK, held a vigil to raise awareness of the White Ribbon Campaign and the 16 days of activism to challenge violence against women and girls. The vigil was an opportunity to reflect and remember those who have been lost due to gender-based violence, with a chance to write messages of hope. There were several speakers throughout the evening, including the Mayor of Bracknell Forest and the leader of the council. In Bracknell Forest, there were 2,655 domestic abuse related incidents recorded by the police in 2022/23, this is an average of seven reports a day. Cllr Naheed Ejaz, the Mayor of Bracknell Forest, has chosen Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA) as the charity she will support for her mayoral year. BWA will receive any charity money donated between May 2023 and May 2024. Cllr Ejaz said: “Berkshire Women’s Aid plays an imperative role in supporting women and children who are victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Each year it needs to raise over £1 million to continue to deliver its services. This is a huge task, but one I know the borough of Bracknell Forest can support them with. “I hope that by raising money and awareness, it will help victims to know there is non-judgemental support out there for them, and they can contact BWA when they feel ready to talk.” Alix Simpson, chief executive at Berkshire Women’s Aid, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as Cllr
Naheed Ejaz’s mayoral charity, and we are extremely grateful for the continued support. In recent years, the need for domestic abuse services has increased. Our mission is to end the cycle of domestic abuse and provide survivors with practical and emotional support.” The White Ribbon flag was raised above Wokingham Borough Council offices in Shute End, Wokingham, to mark White Ribbon Day and the beginning of 16 days of activism to end violence against women and girls (VAWG). The council was delighted to be awarded White Ribbon Accreditation earlier in the month by White Ribbon UK, the leading charity engaging men and boys to prevent violence against women. This launches an organisational commitment to end violence against women and girls. The white ribbon is a symbol for ending men’s violence against women and girls and White Ribbon Day is an internationally recognised day where men show their commitment and support to ending violence against women and girls. The council’s three male directors,
Matt Pope Executive Director for Children, Adults and Health, Graham Ebers Director of Resources and Assets and Deputy Chief Executive, and Giorgio Framalicco Director of Place and Growth, have all made the white ribbon promise to never use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women. The three directors will all be spearheading the creation of a three-year action plan to effect change under the four key areas of strategic leadership, engaging men and boys, culture change and raising awareness. During the 16 days of activism, a vigil was held in Wokingham marketplace when people were invited to join the borough and town mayors to light up the town square with electric candles or torches in memory and support of those affected by VAWG. Councillor Sarah Kerr, executive member for climate emergency and resident services, said: “Violence against women and girls is a fundamental human rights violation which harms the lives of millions. We all have our own stories, but the common theme running through all
of them is that men are the perpetrators and women are de-humanised, treated as objects. And this stops women and girls living the lives they would choose for themselves. “It is not all men. In fact it is not most men. But all men have a moral duty to be part of the solution. No more should we be requiring women to change their behaviours in order to avoid abuse and violence. We need men to actively call out misogynistic behaviours and toxic masculinity that are prevalent in society. “White Ribbon is specifically about raising awareness of the role men play in eliminating violence against women and girls and is part of the wider VAWG agenda.” White Ribbon Day (WRD) marked the start of the 16 days of activism for ending gender-based violence and ended on Sunday, 10th December.
