Crystal Palace players. Pic: Tom Brogan

Crystal Palace FC Foundation has pledged their support for Croydon Council’s White Ribbon campaign against domestic violence and sexual abuse.

The campaign aims to promote a change in community attitudes, calling for greater condemnation of violence against girls and women.

Croydon Council launched the White Ribbon initiative in November last year, with the campaign providing £16 million worth of psychosocial support and protection for victims of domestic abuse.

Head of the foundation Donald Ford said: “We are happy to support this work which will benefit our immediate and surrounding communities.”

Leader of the council, Councillor Tony Newman, welcomed the foundation’s support of the campaign, saying: “It adds strength to our stand that domestic abuse and sexual violence will not be tolerated in Croydon, and we will continue to work to get this message to as many people as possible.”

The Crystal Palace FC Foundation, established in 1989, works with local communities in Croydon and four other boroughs to provide sporting provision for young people. Its aims also include supporting children’s development through citizenship and PHSE curriculum activities and providing routes into employment.

The club’s foundation have committed to numerous different measures in support of the White Ribbon movement. Ford said: “Our plans include getting anti-domestic abuse and sexual violence messages rolled out through joint education programmes run by the council and CPFC Foundation.

“We will also publicise the campaign in match-day programmes and invite key campaign promoters to attend a game and share this work with supporters at half time.”

The White Ribbon Campaign begins on November 25 every year, the same date as the United Nations’ Elimination of Violence Against Women day. It has been running since 1991.