Refreshed toolkit puts young people at the centre of action to address sexism and sexual harassment

Refreshed toolkit puts young people at the centre of action to address sexism and sexual harassment 

Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston joined educational and safeguarding leaders in relaunching a unique toolkit designed to help teachers confidently tackle misogyny and sexism in schools and promote healthier relationships. 

The revised Safer Corridors Action Toolkit, funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough PCC and developed in collaboration with students and key partners, was unveiled at an online event attended by more than 70 teachers, safeguarding leads and stakeholders.  

It aims to support peer leaders, teachers or other adults within schools and educational settings to positively influence perceptions around healthy relationships among boys and girls and to empower pupils to speak up when something looks wrong, importantly delivering on the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan commitment to prioritise Early Intervention and Prevention. 

The toolkit follows extensive engagement activities with students in Years 9 to 13 across the county to put young people in the driving seat of efforts to eradicate sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assaults. 

It comes as a direct result of feedback captured at the county’s first Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prevention Event hosted by the PCC last year highlighting the importance of early intervention and the need for coordinated awareness activities in educational and youth settings to promote healthy relationships and acceptable behaviour.  

The prevention conference brought together partners from key statutory and non-statutory agencies to showcase the trailblazing projects underway to prevent VAWG in homes, online, on public transport, and in community spaces and workplaces locally and nationally. 

More than 100 young people contributed to the revised toolkit and were responsible for its emphasis on student voices as part of a whole-school prevention approach.  

One pupil commented during the engagement: “Student voice is rarely heard. Teachers do what they think is right, but they don’t know the reality.” 

Relaunching the toolkit, Darryl said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner, I recognise the best way to support communities is to prevent crime from happening in the first place. Through early intervention, we can address the underlying causes of criminality which leads to fewer victims of crime – this is why Early Intervention and Prevention is a key pillar of my Police and Crime Plan. 

“VAWG has many forms – from domestic abuse and sexual violence to harassment and stalking and coercive behaviour – all of which can have long-term devastating effects on victims.  Additionally, online harm is an increasing concern for our young people who can find themselves exposed to risks such as cyberbullying, online harassment, sexual exploitation, and image-based abuse through social media, all of which can significantly post a risk to their safety and wellbeing.  

“I am pleased to support this ‘Safer Corridors Action Toolkit’ which will support teachers in schools across the county to understand emerging issues, prevent sexual violence and harassment with advice as to how to respond to incidents.   

“Safer Corridors is already used successfully in many schools across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. With renewed focus on the voices and thoughts of young people themselves, the hope is schools are much better equipped at responding to sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assault and devote more time to understanding young people’s perspectives.” 

Cathy Murphy, Lead PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) Education Adviser at Cambridgeshire County Council, said:  “I’m really pleased that with the support of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner we’ve delivered this important and timely update to the Safer Corridors Action Toolkit – which will be provided to all schools in our county. 

“In a fast-changing world, Violence Against Women and Girls remains disturbingly common. This toolkit is a key resource in preventing future violence – it helps teachers to promote healthy relationships between boys and girls and empower young people to best respond to any incidents that do occur.” 

VAWG is recognised by government as a national threat to public safety and equality and remains a serious and persistent issue across all communities.  

The toolkit asserts that everyone within a school community, whether teachers, students or administration staff, should feel able to identify, prevent and challenge stereotypes and call out unacceptable behaviour. 

It also addresses double standards and the sexual harassment of boys as well as girls and what constitutes as sexual harassment – key issues which emerged from the youth focus groups. 

One young person commented: “Men and boys don’t speak up because they think it just happens to women and girls.” 

Another added: “Students might not know sexual harassment is happening to them. Teachers should give scenarios and examples.” 

ENDS

Notes to editors: 

The toolkit has been developed in collaboration with:   

• More than 100 young people (accessed through facilitated group sessions and surveys in school settings)   

• School Staff (PSHE leaders, Designated Safeguarding Leads, Pastoral)   

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough DASV Partnership    

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Rape Crisis Partnership  

• Cambs CC Education Safeguarding Team   

• Cambs Education ICT Service – re Prejudice reporting for Education data.   

• School-aged Health Improvement Partnership Service (SHIPS) – service commissioned by Public Health CCC.   

• Cambs Youth Justice workers