Larne Football Club is delighted to announce the submission of our Listen, Learn, Lead Plan in a further commitment to build on the long-term relationship with White Ribbon NI.
The club first partnered up with White Ribbon NI on International Women’s Day back in 2017, becoming the first sports team in Northern Ireland to sign the White Ribbon Charter, pledging to never commit, condone or stay silent about violence against women and girls.
This pledge was followed up by relevant club officials taking part in Safe Place Training, alongside a second awareness session in 2021 where board members, staff and volunteers to renew our commitment with White Ribbon NI.
In January 2023, the student athletes enrolled in our Scholarship Programme took part in a Listen, Learn, Lead Workshop at Larne Academy of Sport. During the workshop, White Ribbon staff engaged with both first and second year students to provide information aimed at empowering and encouraging young people to speak about violence against women and girls.
In our latest commitment to promote White Ribbon NI’s message amongst the local community, a three-year action plan has been outlined to offer objectives as to how the club will continue to use its voice to bring about genuine change.
These objectives include three members of staff (Chris Liddle, Dean Houston and Janice Hagan) being named as White Ribbon Champions, alongside further Safe Place Training and the running of awareness sessions/fundraising events/focus groups and workshops over the course of three years.
White Ribbon CEO Tahnee McCorry commented:
“I’m delighted that Larne Football Club have taken this powerful next step in helping to prevent violence against women and girls.
“The Listen, Learn, Lead Plan that has been developed is excellent and I have no doubt the players, staff and fans will all get behind it and continue working together to make their community a safe place for women and girls.
“We look forward to furthering our relationship with the club over the next three years and have no doubt that everyone involved will go above and beyond to deliver our message and raise awareness of the important work being carried out by White Ribbon NI.”
White Ribbon is a global movement to end male violence against women. Its goal – which is the same today – was to send out the message that violence against women in all its forms is unacceptable. Find out more: https://www.whiteribbonni.org/
