Victim Support Isle of Man is encouraging people to take part in this year’s Dress in Yellow Day tomorrow.

Held on Friday February 5, it’s being done as part of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week (1 – 7 February 2021).

The charity is encouraging local organisations, big and small, to take part as a team building exercise.

As well as raising staff morale this event will also raise vital funds for the charity and spread the message that #itsnotok.

As a result of the first island lockdown in 2020, Victim Support saw a sharp upsurge in referrals and contacts with increased pressure on its services and the charity expects the current lockdown to follow the same trend.

In the 3-month period from June to September 2020, referrals were up 85% and contacts were up 91% compared to previous 3 months. In addition, domestic abuse cases were up 72% compared with the same period in 2019.

Kerry Gascoyne, Fundraising Officer of Victim Support, comments: ’We hope that the companies already registered to take part in this year’s event will be able to move their efforts online. This in its simplest format could be a team Zoom meeting on the day with everyone wearing yellow.

’For the more adventurous introducing a yellow fancy dress theme or sharing a funny story about a yellow household item with your team.’

Victim Support is an Independent Isle of Man charity, which offers free and confidential help to victims and witnesses of crime, their family and friends.