Council unites to sign White Ribbon Promise and strengthen borough-wide stand against domestic abuse
St Helens Borough Council has reinforced its commitment to preventing domestic abuse and ending violence against women and girls, as the whole Council makes the White Ribbon Promise.
Article date: 28 November 2025
By signing the White Ribbon Promise, councillors commit to never using, excusing, or remaining silent about violence against women and girls. The collective pledge reflects the council's determination to lead by example and drive forward a whole-organisation approach to challenging harmful attitudes, promoting healthy relationships, and supporting cultural change throughout services and communities.
The council's leadership role is central to the priorities set out in the St Helens Domestic Abuse Partnership Strategy 2025-2028, which emphasises prevention, early intervention, education, and coordinated action across the borough. As the largest employer and most influential public body locally, the council recognises its responsibility to set standards, amplify awareness, and model the behaviours and values needed to create lasting change.
Councillor Anthony Burns, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said:
"As a council, we have a duty to lead the way: through our policies, our services, our partnerships and our own behaviour. When we stand together to recommit to the White Ribbon Promise, we are making it clear that domestic abuse and gender-based violence have absolutely no place in our borough.
"I'm incredibly proud that our ongoing efforts have been recognised with accreditation as we work to tackle this crucial issue that fractures people, homes, families and communities, but we will not rest here.
"We ask everyone to please join us in making the promise, and stand with us against violence. Let's make our borough a place where everyone feels safe, heard and respected."
The signing of the White Ribbon Promise by all councillors marks another key step in embedding a whole-council approach to tackling domestic abuse. This includes workforce training, awareness initiatives, strengthened support for victims and survivors, and continued partnership working across health, policing, safeguarding, and the voluntary and community sector.
St Helens Borough Council will continue championing the White Ribbon, challenging violence and misogyny, and supporting ongoing efforts to end gender-based violence across the borough.
For more information about the White Ribbon UK campaign, visit https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/