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Family Works speaks out against family violence

Family Works Northern is speaking out against family violence in support of White Ribbon Day and as part of their dedication to eliminate family violence in New Zealand.

“Everyone has the right to live violence-free, but for many that right is denied. Family Works is committed to educating and advocating against family violence, to build public awareness and to support those who have experienced or witnessed abuse”, says Dr Rod Watts, Presbyterian Support Northern’s CEO.

White Ribbon Day, 25 November, is the international day when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women. Family Works Northern sites are promoting White Ribbon Day in many ways including displaying posters and banners, adorning cars in white ribbons, holding stalls at local White Ribbon Day events, encouraging staff to wear white ribbons and participating in community activities.

Presbyterian Support Northern’s Family Violence Prevention Advocate, Jude Simpson, will be speaking at the White Ribbon Day event in Waitakere, hosted by the Waitakere City Council. Jude’s role is to work with organisations and communities to share her powerful story and promote strategies to eliminate family violence. Jude suffered abuse as a child and went on to live in violent and abusive relationships. Later in life, Jude sought help and is now a living example that the cycle of violence can be broken.

Family Works offers counselling and social work support as well as group programmes to assist those who have experienced or witnessed family violence or abuse. Women Against Violence is a programme for women who have been or are still in abusive relationships and are interested in making more positive choices for themselves and their children. Restore is designed for children and young people to support them to understand and deal with the impact of violence and abuse, to develop non-violent ways to resolve conflict and to increase self-esteem.

For more information on Family Works and the programmes offered, please visit www.familyworks.org.nz.

-ENDS-

For more information:

Dr Rod Watts

Chief Exective Officer

Presbyterian Support Northern

Ph: 09 520 8601 or 027 520 8601

Email: rod.watts@psn.org.nz

Website: www.psn.org.nz