Paint the town purple in a stand against violence
Cheltenham residents, businesses, schools and other groups were invited to unite and take a stand against violence, by wearing purple.
On 10th December 2015, Cheltenham joined countries all over the world in a campaign to end violence towards men, women and children. People were urged to wear purple clothes, accessorise rooms with purple ribbons, or even illuminate buildings with purple lighting, to show their support.
The 16-day campaign - which ran from 25th November to 10th December - is known as the international 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
In Cheltenham, the Council, Cheltenham Borough Homes, Oakwood and Gardners Lane federation, Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support service and CCP - together with a number of partners, used this opportunity to recognise all types of violence, which affects all types of people.
Also as part of the campaign, we had a stall at an event hosted in the Brewery on the 10th December, with speakers, promotional material and purple ribbons for people to take away.
By Nicholas von Benzon
Cheltenham Mediation Services