Lights for Change – A Christmas Tree for a Safer Future

This Christmas, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council invites residents, businesses, and community groups to take part in Lights for Change – A Christmas Tree for a Safer Future, a campaign designed to raise awareness and inspire action to end violence against women and girls.

By displaying a special #BeTheChange bauble, you’ll be showing your support for a safer, more equal future. These simple decorations, symbolising hope and unity, will be available free of charge from 17 November at our Connect Centres in Enniskillen and Omagh.

We’re also encouraging local businesses and community associations to get involved by collecting a large #BeTheChange bauble or support stickers for display in shop windows, offices, or public spaces, helping spread the message of change throughout our towns and communities.

How to Join the #BeTheChange Campaign

• Take a photo of your #BeTheChange bauble
• Post it on social media
• Use the hashtag #BeTheChange
• Tag FODC so we can share your post

The campaign runs 17 November – 6 January, with photo entries for the artistic showcase finale accepted until 19 December. Baubles will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, so early collection is encouraged.

The project will conclude with a community artwork featuring all tagged photos – a visual celebration of solidarity and shared commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

Commenting at the launch of the initiative: Cllr Barry McElduff, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said:

“I will be hanging my #BeTheChange bauble on my own Christmas tree and I encourage everyone across the District to do the same.

These baubles are more than decorations. They represent hope, unity, and a shared commitment to a safer future. By displaying them throughout our community we send a clear message: violence has no place here.”

Together, we can raise awareness and inspire real change.”

This initiative supports The Executive Office’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Framework, launched in September 2024, which focuses on prevention – tackling the root causes of abuse and harm before they begin.

Earlier this year, the Council partnered with local organisations to deliver community-led projects and resources. Looking ahead to 2026, plans include training programmes, research into rural influences on violence, and the launch of the Local Change Fund.

For more information, visit www.fermanaghomagh.com#BeTheChange