A new pilot programme has been launched in Tameside, Greater Manchester, to educate boys and girls about what constitutes violence against women and girls and what its effects are.
The scheme, which has been commissioned by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council and developed in partnership with safeguarding leads, commissioners, teachers, parents and young people, will be delivered by the national relationships charity TLC: Talk, Listen Change.
Across the borough, the pilot will run for between eight and ten weeks and will be implemented in a number of schools, including three primary schools which have launched the programme already and a number of secondary schools aiming to join the pilot this September.
Recent research by Safe Lives that showed nearly half of boys and a third of girls aged 13 & 14 thought that hitting a partner would be ‘okay’ in at least one of twelve scenarios they were presented with. Another recent survey fro the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) found that nearly a third of girls don’t feel safe from sexual harassment in school.
The pilot programme’s lessons will focus on a range of topics including emotional wellbeing, identifying unhealthy & abusive behaviours, online literacy & objectification and informed approaches to consent, using age appropriate content to support healthier relationships.
John Hughes, Service Manager for Talk, Listen, Change said:
Ultimately, we want to create a supportive environment for girls across every school in the country. They have a right to feel safe and supported in the classroom, on the playground and throughout their lives at school, and we’re totally committed to educating both boys and girls about what constitutes violence against women and girls and what its effects are.
Jonathon Hobday, Headteacher at Hurst Knoll St James’ CE Primary School said:
Being part of the pilot means we can shape the learning and understanding of our children now and the children who will access this programme in the future. We are very proud of our diverse community and the measures that we take to ensure that everyone feels welcome, safe and valued. If people feel secure, then they can thrive.
