This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Education Safeguarding Professional, Jatinder Matharu, for the attention of All Schools.
Sexual abuse & Violence Week – 6th – 12th February 2023
Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week is the UK’s national week to raise awareness of sexual abuse and violence and to everyone to raise awareness and campaign against sexual violence and shine a light on the support available.
The week aims to empower victims and send out a clear message that the UK collectively will be saying ‘It’s Not Ok’!
There has been a focus on peer-on-peer sexual abuse and sexual violence between young people and in education settings. This abuse of children by other children can take many forms including bullying, sexual exploitation, and violence.
Online peer-on-peer abuse is any form of child-on-child abuse with a digital element. This includes sharing nudes, online abuse, coercion and exploitation, peer-on-peer grooming, threatening language the distribution of sexualised content, and harassment.
The PSHE Association and National Police Chief's Council have produced lesson plans to allow teachers to deliver the initial violent behaviour prevention education using facilitation guidance, lessons & resources for KS3 pupils on violet behaviour which can be found here: Police in the classroom (pshe-association.org.uk)
Anyone who would like to speak to someone in confidence about sexual abuse or violence can contact Thames Valley Police on 101 or if anyone is at immediate harm, please call 999.
You can download the logo for #ITs NOT OK here: Resources - Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week
The Survivors Trust runs a free, national helpline 7 days a week for people aged 16+. They support encourage all survivors of rape or sexual abuse and violence to call our helpline.
Call the free, confidential helpline on 0808 801 0818 | Our Helpline & Live Chat Service | The Survivors Trust
There are many common myths about rape, sexual abuse and sexual violence which can make it difficult for victims to talk to anyone or seek support. Victims can blame themselves, think others will blame them or that they won’t be believed. Myths can also affect how victims are treated by family and friends, services, and organisations. It's important to challenge these myths. Victim First