We would like to bring to your attention an exciting new 3-way partnership that has recently been formed between the Football Club, Wycombe Wanderers Sports and Education Trust (“WWSET”) and Wycombe Women’s Aid.
For those that aren’t aware Wycombe Women’s Aid are the local branch of the National Women’s Aid charity who help women and children who are experiencing or trying to escape domestic violence, as well as those who are dealing with its effects and consequences.
As part of this new partnership Wycombe Wanderers FC have last week signed up to the “Football United Against Domestic Violence” campaign being championed by Women’s Aid, and which aims to raise awareness of domestic violence and battle the sexist attitudes that underpin abuse against women.
By pledging our support, we as a football club are sending a clear message that domestic violence is completely unacceptable, and we are actively encouraging the football community to speak out publicly against domestic violence in society in order to make football a place where perpetrators of domestic abuse are not welcome.
Whilst signing the pledge on behalf of WWFC, manager Gareth Ainsworth threw the full weight of his support behind the clubs involvement by saying:
“Everybody involved with Wycombe Wanderers recognises that domestic violence is an abhorrent act which causes immeasurable damage to victims, both physically and mentally. We are a football club who want to achieve results on the pitch and also want to help achieve results off the pitch in the local community as well. If the clubs support of this campaign helps even one person escape domestic abuse then that would be considered a great result!”
The “Football United Against Domestic Violence” campaign also has the full backing of the FA. Upon the launch of the charter, then FA general secretary Alex Horne had this to say:
“Football has a key role to play in tackling such a serious problem and The FA is proud to back the campaign. Domestic violence affects all of our society and football has the potential to reach a huge proportion of the public. We can all make a difference by signing up to the Football United Against Domestic Violence campaign – clubs, fans and players – to bring domestic violence out from behind closed doors.”
In addition to WWFC signing the charter, WWSET have also teamed up with Wycombe Women’s Aid to design and deliver educational workshops in local schools. The workshops aim to provide an interactive and interesting way for children to learn about healthy relationships, the dangers of domestic abuse and ways to keep themselves safe. Following the workshops all children should be able to identify types of abusive behaviour, understand what behaviour is healthy and not healthy, and know where to get help should they ever be at risk.
Hopefully in the future these educational workshops will make a small difference in improving the frightening statistics around domestic violence in the UK:
- Domestic violence will affect 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men in their lifetime
- Domestic violence leads to on average two women being murdered each week and 30 men per year
- Domestic violence accounts for 16% of all violent crime, however it is still the violent crime least likely to be reported to the police
- Domestic violence has more repeat victims than any other crime (on average there will have been 35 assaults before a victim calls the police)
- Domestic violence is the single most quoted reason for becoming homeless
- Approximately 400 people commit suicide each year who have attended hospital for domestic abuse injuries in the previous six months, 200 of these attend hospital on the day they go on to commit suicide
So, if you’re involved with a school who may be interested in taking part in the free educational workshops please get in touch with the WWSET team and they will be happy to organise something for you.
Alternatively, if you are currently suffering at the hands of an abuser please know that help is out there.You can contact Wycombe Women’s Aid in the strictest of confidence on the following number: 01494 461367
