Go-Ahead Ireland is pleased to announce the launch of a working partnership with White Ribbon Ireland.

White Ribbon is a global campaign that works to engage men and boys in helping to end gender-based violence and violence against women and girls, while promoting respect, equality and positive change. White Ribbon Ireland is a project of Men’s Development Network.

This partnership reflects Go-Ahead Ireland's commitment to creating a workplace culture where everyone feels safe, respected and supported. We also aim to provide our frontline colleagues with practical knowledge and guidance to help them recognise potential concerns, understand appropriate responses within their role, and access the right support and reporting pathways when needed.

As part of the wider Go-Ahead Group, which became White Ribbon UK accredited earlier this year, we are committed to building on this work in a way that is meaningful and relevant for our colleagues here in Ireland.

Dervla McKay, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Ireland, said:

"As a transport operator employing more than 1,000 people across a predominantly male industry, we recognise the important role we can play in fostering a culture of respect and shared responsibility. With a growing footprint across the Greater Dublin Area and tens of millions of passenger journeys each year, we are well placed to champion this movement, helping to create safer and more supportive environments for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve."

Fredrick Okungu, White Ribbon Manager, Men’s Development Network, said:

“We are delighted to begin this partnership with Go-Ahead Ireland. Creating safer and more equal workplaces starts with leadership and it is encouraging to see an organisation invest in building the knowledge, confidence and commitment needed to drive meaningful cultural change. We look forward to working together to empower staff at every level to play their part in preventing gender-based violence and fostering workplaces where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.”

To mark the beginning of this partnership, Go-Ahead Ireland's Senior Leadership and Management Team participated in the first phase of White Ribbon training. The session introduced the programme and explored how workplaces can contribute to preventing violence against women and girls through awareness, leadership and positive action.

This is about more than awareness. It is about action, engagement and long-term cultural change. We are currently working with White Ribbon Ireland to develop a programme of tailored workshops and engagement opportunities that will support colleagues across different areas of the business. These workshops will be designed to meet the needs of different audiences within Go-Ahead Ireland and will form part of an ongoing programme of activity.

A sincere thank you to Fredrick Okungu, Róisín Chippendale and Sara Moreno from White Ribbon Ireland in helping us take the first steps on this journey.

Together, we can continue to build a workplace culture based on respect, inclusion and safety for everyone.