MSP Meets Highland Violence Against Women Partnership

15th February 2024

Emma Roddick MSP visited Inverness yesterday to learn more about the work being done to prevent violence against women.

Ms Roddick met with with staff from the Highland Violence Against Women Partnership (HVAWP) and NHS Highland's Public Health team to discuss their innovative approach to raising awareness of abusive relationships.

HVAWP are piloting their Spider in a Glass campaign, which aims to highlight the loss of safety, choice and control often experienced by people living within an abusive relationship.

Local artist Laura Anne Middlemiss, who collaborated with HVAWP's Training Officer Myra Ross, to create materials for the campaign, met with Ms Roddick and was thanked for her contribution.

The group was joined by Lorna Stanger, who ran 16 marathons in 16 days to raise funds for Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH), an independent charity which provides support to survivors of sexual violence.

Lorna ran each marathon wearing t-shirts printed with the words of a poem written by Myra to raise awareness of violence against women.

Lorna received letters of thanks from Ms Roddick and the Highland Violence Against Women Partnership.

Emma Roddick MSP said: "I am so glad I got to meet with the Highland Violence Against Women Partnership to learn more about the incredible work they are doing to prevent violence against women and support survivors.

"Myra has created much-needed materials so that folk really understand the harsh reality of gender-based violence that we know is still too prevalent in our society.

"It was also inspiring to get to meet Lorna Stanger to congratulate her on running 16 marathons during the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

"The work she has done to raise awareness of gender-based violence, along with all the money she has raised, is amazing as she continues to be a voice for survivors.

“We all know someone who has been a victim of gender-based violence, but the work Highland VAWP does is absolutely vital for us to eradicate it completely in the region."

PHOTO
(l-r) Dr Tim Allison, NHS Highland Director of Public Health, Emma Roddick MSP, Lorna Stanger, Laura Anne Middlemiss, Peter Mackenzie HVAWP Chair and Myra Ross