Just four months on from the full impact of the testimonials published by Everyone’s Invited, schools around the country are rethinking their long-term strategy and teaching around the complex and emotive subject area of gendered violence.
The programme is being run by Bold Voices – which already delivers education on gender inequality and gender-based violence in schools and universities – and it will explore ways of drawing the generations together to change this pervading and systemic culture for the long term.
Founder of Bold Voices, Natasha Eeles – who wrote in SecEd recently advising on how schools can tackle sexual harassment and violence – explained: “Over the last three years we have been looking at how we can reach significantly more schools – the onslaught of the Everyone’s Invited campaign gave us the focus we needed.
“We are also acutely aware through our delivery of talks and workshops just how urgently this education is needed – not just for our young people, but for our teachers and parents too. By facilitating and encouraging uncomfortable conversations further than the classroom, we believe change can and will happen.”
The Bold Voices Ambassador Programme is inviting schools to join in order to raise awareness within their own settings and to link up with others in their local area and beyond.
Bold Voices is inviting schools to nominate five pupils (from year 10 upwards), two teachers and two parents, who will all take part in a series of online virtual sessions throughout the next academic year.
Content will help participants explore the underlying issues of gender inequality and how these are inextricably linked with acts of gendered violence, the role of social media, the context of consent, and how to leverage change within their social spheres.
Pupils will receive one session a month, teachers six across the year and parents three. These will be live sessions (recorded for participants to catch up or listen again if they need to).
For schools looking to have larger groups of pupils involved, there is also the option to upscale and create their own bespoke school hub.
Bold Voices anticipate that schools who join their programme will then pass the baton on to a new group of participating pupils, teachers and parents at the start of each academic year.
Currently there is a cost (Bold Voices is a not-for-profit social enterprise) of £950 per school for the annual programme (with a discounted rate available upon application). Bold Voices is inviting schools, if they are able, to pay for another school in their area, at a reduced rate.
Ms Eeles added: “We believe that this is an overwhelmingly positive initiative. Bold Voices has consistently campaigned for equal education for boys and girls in this emotive subject area and this innovative programme both empowers and facilitates change.”
- For more information, contact natasha@boldvoices.co.uk or visit www.boldvoices.co.uk