Become a White Ribbon Action Team
The White Ribbon Challenge relies on the passion and drive of committed individuals. However when individuals join together to pool their resources, share networks and work as a group, the possibilities are limitless. This page is aimed at community groups who are working together to run projects, increase awareness and take action.
Register to become a White Ribbon Action Team and help make meaningful changes
in the attitudes and actions of the people around you! Send your registration form to events@whiteribbonday.org.au.
Ideas for a White Ribbon Action Team
Community Action can take many forms. Some of the ways that groups in your community can work together to support White Ribbon and create a community where everyone is safe and respected may include the following:
* Host a White Ribbon Day event: Follow these 5 Easy Steps to Host a White Ribbon Event * Work with your local Chamber of Commerce to encourage all local retailers to sell White Ribbons and wristbands;
* Create a White Ribbon Organising Committee made up of committed individuals who are keen to create genuine change in the community;
* Organise an interfaith breakfast for all your local faith leaders to pledge their commitment to ending violence against women;
* Recruit male community leaders to become active campaigners on the issue. Consider men who have positions of influence such as the mayor, councillors, leaders of Rotary and Lions, school principals, business owners and sportsmen and invite them to join the organising committee. Consider nominating them as White Ribbon Ambassadors;
* Encourage all organisations within your community eg. schools, workplaces, council offices, sports clubs, licensed venues and clubs, to commit to run respectful relationships or violence prevention programs;
* Utilise your existing networks – sporting, faith-based, school, work or community – to initiate a Community Challenge in your community;
* Organise a major, community-wide event such as ac.care’s White Ribbon Loudest Shout in Mt Gambier – hire a decibel meter and bring together all the men in your community and measure how loud they can shout “No” to violence against women;
* Develop an action plan to embed White Ribbon principles at all levels of your community.
Tips on working collectively - Thanks to Mt Gambier, White Ribbon Action Team
* Share the load – Organising a major community event is hard work, and the more people you have to help spread the work, the easier it will be;
* Identify the valuable expertise and experience that each member brings to the table and allocate specific tasks accordingly;
* Meet regularly and distribute an action list following each meeting;
* If possible, source administrative support for printing, communication distribution of minutes via personal contacts, local businesses, council;
* Involve others to offer the widest possible access to a range of organisations and networks;
* Target relevant networks such as police, schools, council, local media and unions to provide the best chance of publicity and greater participation;
* Measure your impact – take a poll of community attitudes, monitor local media coverage of family violence incidents or talk to police about reports of violence levels before and after your event. Monitor whether there is any change after one year.
How Can We Take Action?
Projects aimed at changing long standing beliefs and practices work best if they are designed and led by members of that community. To sustain the work, the values and strategies need to be in the hearts and minds of all members of the community.
Your community may have already taken steps to prevent violence against women. There may have been some individual projects that have been run and promoted. This is fantastic groundwork to build upon. The next step is to create longer term social change within the community.
1. Community Ownership
2. Raising Funds
3. Networking
1. Community Ownership
It can help to engage various sectors of the community in planning and decision-making, including education, health services, local government, sporting bodies, faith groups, community organisations, police and any other relevant groups;
* Undertaking an assessment to identify key influencing figures from your community;
* Developing an action plan with representatives from the relevant sectors and agencies;
* Setting measurable, achievable goals for the months ahead.
2. Raising Funds
Raising funds to support your work is often the most difficult aspect of Team Action.
Local business is a great source of support for community projects. Consider that many organisations who cannot afford to donate money are often more than happy to provide in-kind support in the form of donating professional skills, products to raffle, a free venues or food and beverages for an event.
Depending on the structure of your team, you may like to consider submitting your project for a financial grant. This site has a comprehensive list of grants available from Commonwealth, State, nongovernment and private bodies.
To improve the chances of your grant being approved, we highly recommend you consider the social change model when developing your application.
3. Networking
Networking is a powerful tool for achieving social change. We are connected to our communities in many ways:
* the neighbourhood
* school
* sporting clubs
* businesses
* shopping malls
* workplaces
* playgroups
* cultural groups
* religious groups
Networking includes all the communication that goes on in all of these groups. Pulling together and using the collective energy of a strong network makes tough tasks a lot easier.
Register as a White Ribbon Action Team Today!
Download the registration form and return it to us on events@whiteribbonday.org.au to become a White Ribbon Action Team today!
5 Easy Steps to Host a White Ribbon Event
Visit our Resources page to download our PR Pack with template media releases and sample newsletter articles or to download our Community Fundraising Resources including fundraising application forms, fundraising guidelines and tips on holding events.
Becoming a White Ribbon Action Team will give you the opportunity to network with other teams who are making a positive difference in their communities.
Are you ready for the next challenge?
I Want to be a White Ribbon Champion
We want to be a White Ribbon Community5 Easy Steps to Host a White Ribbon Event