Put Yourself in Her Shoes

LIVERPOOL men are being asked to put on high heels and “walk a mile in her shoes” in a campaign against violence to women.  The White Ribbon Campaign UK is part of an international effort to challenge the acceptance of male violence towards women and girls.

To support the campaign, men are being asked to wear women’s high heeled shoes and “walk a mile in her shoes” in a sponsored event in Liverpool ONE on Thursday, 25 November 2010, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.   The walk will end at the Bluecoat where Speke Garston Domestic Violence Project (SGDVP) will be holding their ‘Bed-in’ to mark the anniversaries of John Lennon’s birthday and assassination with a recreation of John and Yoko’s famous 1969 peace protest. The volunteer walkers will be pledging their support by signing a bed sheet to endorse men’s stand against male violence towards women.

“This event is a thought-provoking way of drawing attention to the issue of violence against women.  We would hope that there are many men who are prepared to show their support for this vital campaign and say that violence against women is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated.” said Councillor Ann O’Byrne, city council cabinet member for community safety.

Angela Clarke from Speke Garston Domestic Violence Project said:- ”SGDVP is taking part in the Bluecoat “Bed-in” to raise awareness of domestic violence and has linked it to the ‘White Ribbon Campaign’ which starts on 25 November, International End Violence Against Women Day, with the aim of highlighting issues of violence against women. We are asking all those who visit our “Bed-In” on the day to sign their names on a double bed sheet to show their support for the campaign”

The White Ribbon Campaign is part of an international effort to challenge the acceptance of male violence towards women and girls. Men are asked to wear a white ribbon to symbolise their commitment not to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

Locally a White Ribbon Steering Group has been active since 2005 and is made up of statutory and voluntary organisations including Citysafe to promote the campaign.

Sandy Bowden, chair of the Group, said:- “Liverpool has always been amazing in showing its support for the White Ribbon Campaign and this event has been no different. I have been astounded by the amount of men from all walks of life who are willing to don a pair of high heels and totter around the streets of Liverpool to show their commitment to ending male violence towards women."

Other events for this year’s campaign include a Charity Ball and a football tournament sponsored by Riverside Housing which will be held on 17 November 2010.

Men who want to take part in the “walk a mile in her shoes “ event should contact Sandy or Jayne on email or email. High heel shoes size 8 plus have been hard to come by so anyone who can donate a larger shoe size please contact Jayne McPartland by Friday, 19 November 2010.

Artists Called to Spotlight Liverpool Greats

MERSEYSIDE'S artists are being invited to illuminate Liverpool and St. Helens City Centres with a unique trail of original art inspired by great people from their past and present.  As part of the forthcoming Liverpool Discovers: A Winter’s Trail public art event in February, the ‘Spotlight a Liverpool Great’ programme will consist of over 30 works of art adorning lampposts as a highlight of the trail.

From Monday, 15 November 2010, local artist will be invited to submit their designs via a downloadable template from.  Artists are encouraged to look into the lesser known, but significant figures associated with Liverpool and St. Helens and can draw inspiration from the fascinating facts submitted in the public consultation, viewable on the website.

The list of famous and not-so-famous people artist may choose to portray is vast and could include anyone from William Gladstone, Britain’s longest serving Prime Minister and George Stephenson inventor of ‘The Rocket’ to Kim Cattrall and Harry Potter Director David Yates. The deadline for submissions will be Monday 29 November 2010.

Liverpool Discovers is a pioneering public art event which will highlight interesting, quirky and little-known facts about Liverpool as part of a fun trail of 10 unique art installations. Using Liverpool’s first hand-drawn illustrative map as a guide, visitors and residents will become explorers, discovering as they go countless fascinating facts about the city as they weave their way around the Trail. St.Helens and Wirral will also have their very own trails of discovery focussing on greater Merseyside’s contributions to world history.

The ‘Spotlight’ programme is sponsored by City Central BID ensuring the artwork will be seen in one of the major thoroughfares of the city centre.

Ged Gibbons, Chief Executive of City Central BID, said:- ‘’Spotlight a Liverpool Great is a fantastic idea and we’re delighted to be supporting a project that will inject a much needed blast of fun and colour into the city centre once the Christmas festivities are over. With so many fabulous characters to chose from it will certainly get people talking and with Whitechapel’s historic links it’ll be the perfect place to host these giants of our past.’’

The award-winning Wild in Art will be producing Liverpool Discovers following their phenomenal Go Superlambananas and Go Penguins events in partnership with Liverpool Lantern Company, recently wowing over 30,000 people with their Halloween Lantern Parade.

Sally-Ann Wilkinson, Director of Wild in Art said:- “The considerable talent of the region’s artists has made our events something very special and we are delighted to offer them another canvas on which to showcase their work, while giving visitors an opportunity to learn about and enjoy Liverpool’s most interesting people.”

Councillor Wendy Simon, the city’s cabinet member for Culture and Tourism, added:- “Liverpool has a rich and diverse history which we want to showcase through this unique art programme. It will showcase some of the lesser known facts about what makes Liverpool the wonderful place it is. We have a wealth of artistic talent on Merseyside and I can’t wait to see how they bring some of the stories to life and turn them into a trail which is both fun and educational.”