Orange ribbon campaign

City goes orange in wake of gender-based violence

AMNA AKRAM reports on the 16 days of activism against gender based violence in Liverpool and finds out what RASA Merseyside is doing to help!

Organisations across the city are raising awareness against gender-based violence by going orange to remember survivors of sexual abuse and women who lost their lives to violence.

The campaign – part of a 16-day initiative launched by the United Nations (UN) - comes in the wake of recent tragedies on Merseyside involving the killing of Ava White and a 47-year-old woman.

Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside have released a powerful campaign which started from November 25 till December 10, where they are placing orange ribbons and encouraging other women to do so with a little tag on to explain why they felt unsafe in a public space.

Emma Walker from RASA Merseyside explained the cause behind the act: “Earlier this year there was a Police Crime Commission survey which we delegated to anybody that wants to fill it out and we got some data of where people feel unsafe coming back to those answers it was mostly public places.”

She went onto say: “We are reclaiming those spaces, they are for everybody and letting people know that sexual violence, genderbased violence or any kind of harm that is directed at somebody who is female or identifying as female is not acceptable.”

According to the Opinions and Lifestyle survey in June 2021, from The Office for National Statistics (ONS) 89% of women in Great Britain who had experienced harassment said they felt” very or fairly unsafe” walking on their own after dark in a park or other open space.

The registered charity which provides professional counselling and support to survivors of sexual abuse was founded in 1986, after the tragic rape and murder of Diane Sindall who was just on her way home from work. This incident was a catalyst and reminder for the future that we still have a long way to go in the city and that is only going to happen if there is systematic change.

Amongst the orange ribbon campaign RASA Merseyside has also been hosting a poetry project for an interactive experience calling all artists and poets for their interpretations on sexual violence which has then been posted on their social media accounts. The response and contribution to this open call has been seen on a massive scale as Emma mentioned the significance: “We received very high volume of entries and this has impacted so many people regardless of gender and identity, everybody seems to want to get involved with this which is really important.”

Hera Perihar, a student from Liverpool John Moores University shared her thoughts: “The fact that

Women feel empowered after standing up to gender based crimes

I want people to know we are here as ’ a service to support the health, safety and wellness of all people there’s been a noticeable increase in violence against women is worrying to me. I try to have a positive outlook and I feel like I’m safe enough to walk home by my own but I’m much more guarded now and cautious about where I go and when.

“I just don’t think it’s fair to be living in constant fear about whether it’s safe to go out or not, I feel like we, as a society, should be doing more to create an environment where everyone feels and is safe and

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comfortable enough to live their lives and thrive.”

There will be a vigil taking place this Saturday at 6:00pm on Church Street in remembrance of Ava White and all the other women who have sadly lost their lives to violence.

RASA Merseyside is encouraging people to get involved in their campaign. To learn more about what the service provides please visit: https://www.rasamerseyside.org/ info-support

From newsroom buzz to prestigious PR

CATRIN JONES chats to former LJMU student Connor Dunn about his recent career change.

Liverpool is best known for The Beatles, its historical docks, and of course, football. For one young aspiring journalist, it was the perfect city to kickstart his career in the media industry.

Connor Dunn has since gone on to be a news and sports reporter for the Liverpool Echo, before landing his current job in public relations.

LJMU journalism graduate Connor explained to MNL what drew him to the city: “I came out here with a few of my home mates and thought it was class.

“So, I applied to go to university here and thought there would be so many opportunities. I also thought the city was small enough and had a town-feel but still a city, so I thought it was an ideal place to learn to be a journalist.”

The 28-year-old from Kent graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 2015 as he left LJMU newsrooms to become a reporter at the Liverpool Echo. He told MNL of why he chose to stay up north to pursue his career.

“I fell in love with the city and loved the people- I know it sounds like such a cliché. Where I’m from, it’s very rural and not a lot going on, whereas in the city there is so much available to me.”

He also explained why his passion for football steered him into a job as a sports reporter for the Echo.

“When I did news, I went to court, I covered policing, and did general news. Then I went to sport and did football and little bit of boxing, but because football is the big traffic of Liverpool, it was just football and I’m a Liverpool fan myself-ever since Michael Owen scored a goal against Argentina in 1998.”

During his time at the Echo, Connor has produced a portfolio of football pieces, including the coverage of the controversial European Super League chaos.

The Liverpool fan recently left his 5-year position at the Merseyside newspaper as he made the transition to PR. Connor now works for the agency ThisGeneration, and since his recent career change, he has seen many opportunities arise.

“I got amazing opportunities in both but then with this PR company I do big events- we’ve been doing the PR for Westlife!

“I can see a little bit of different sides to media but also seeing where PR can take me after doing journalism for nearly 6 years- a bit of a change might give me a new challenge.”

Connor has recently attended major events with his agency including award shows booming with celebrities and high corporates.

“On Thursday, it was The European Diversity Awards at the Landmark Hotel in London. We had Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York there. It was quite a highly corporate awards and it’s essentially celebrating diversity champions in various workplaces.

“On Friday, it was The Ethnicity Awards at the Grosvenor Square Marriott. It was a bit more celebrity and public figure focused, for example Charlene White was hosting.”

The night saw many prestigious awards being taken home, including Moira Stewart, the first Black female news presenter on British television, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award. British journalist and televi-

The 2018 Champion’s League Final press conference Photo: Connor Dunn

sion presenter Naga Munchetty also won Journalist of the Year.

Connor also mentioned his PR company work with a charitable initiative ‘Football for Change’ launched by Liverpool player Trent Alexander-Arnold to get young people into education and employment opportunities. The charity was accommodated at the Titanic Hotel on Saturday 13th November, with the likes of Sir Rod Stewart, Russel Howard, and Pixie Lott attending.

“It raised a series amount of money; in Yorkshire alone, it raised £252,000. So, that all now is completely not-forprofit and will go into organisations supporting young people across the Northwest.”

Alongside his career, Connor is also a world traveller and has visited many corners of the globe, with many of these trips a part of his work, such as the 2018 Champion’s League Final in Kiev. Where he met former Ukrainian Boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

“After uni, I took 6 months out before I started a job. I travelled across China, then went down to Vietnam, back up to Thailand and then flew to India then made my way back up.”

“It’s just amazing to go to these places and get paid to do it. Press trips- they’re not as regular as they used to be when I was speaking to older people in the newsroom, but I was lucky enough to go on two different Ski holidays. That is not a bad perk really.”

Connor mentioned his next adventure was due to be Jamaica.

From newsroom buzz to prestigious PR

I have an absolute passion for travelling- I’ve been so lucky.”

Prestigious: The Ethnicity Awards at the Grosvener Square Marriott Photo: Connor Dunn

Press Trips: Connor on a Ski holiday Photo: Connor Dunn