Projects
The SHUSH Project is a bespoke educational project that focuses on sexual harassment and other related topics such as:
• Respecting others and their choices
• Healthy and unhealthy relationships
• Consent
• Sexual Harassment
• Sexual Assault
• Space and boundaries
• Sexting
• Unrealistic expectations from watching pornography
• Grooming/ Child sexual exploitation
• Help and support
Recently we have been commended by the Police and Crime Commissioner for our project within Leicester/Leicestershire and had the opportunity to present the project at Leicester's Violence against women’s and girls’ event. Discussing how well it has been received by schools, talking about sexual violence and other topics in more detail in an interactive way alongside our staff training.
The Shush project is funded and so it is offered to schools for free.
Our project is designed to give young people the tools and understanding to feel confident in making choices for themselves. This can be achieved through active participation where young people are empowered to play a vital role in their own development and make positive choices in their lives. This also helps them to learn vital life-skills and practical knowledge. It also gives them the awareness to recognise inappropriate behaviours and feel confident to report these.
There is a demand and need for this project due to the rise in peer-on-peer abuse within schools:
· ‘Children and young people told us that sexual harassment occurs so frequently that it has become ‘commonplace’. For example, 92% of girls, and 74% of boys, said sexist name-calling happens a lot or sometimes to them or their peers. The frequency of these harmful sexual behaviours means that some children and young people consider them normal.’( https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges/review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges )
· Young people’s lives can be intertwined with social media and technology; this can distort reality. This can give them an unhealthy view of the world and how they should interact with one another online and in person.
· Historic abuse coming to light when giving young people the language to describe any inappropriate behaviour.
Our project uses the tools of discussion through interactive activities like using traffic light cards and doesn’t force any student to engage if they feel uncomfortable. It is about giving them tools, information, support and guidance.
As our project is bespoke, we can adjust it to suit the needs of the organisation. We have previously worked in youth clubs, residential homes and for the past three academic years worked with Lion Heart Trust who have six secondary schools under their belt. All have praised the SHUSH project and feel it has been well received by their young people. The age ranges this project can be adapted for ranges from 11 years old to 25 years old.
Alongside the SHUSH Project, we have our professionals training in two different packages:
- 1 hour covering: training around peer-on-peer sexual violence, spotting signs, impact and disclosures.
- 2 hours covering: all of the above - more in-depth training that also includes Harmful sexual behaviour, youth produced sexual imagery, CSE and grooming.
There is a capacity for 12 within this training and it is at a charge due to it not being funded. If you would like to know more or book on for the training, please contact: [email protected]