In June 2020 Soma Sara began to share her personal experiences of rape culture via her Instagram account. The overwhelming response she received led to her forming Everyone's Invited, which invited survivors of rape culture to share their own experiences and highlighted the true extent of the problem. The tragic murder of Sarah Everard led to these testimonies going 'viral', with accounts being shared of an endemic, ingrained rape culture in UK schools, including some of the most prestigious schools in England. In recent months, the focus has shifted to UK universities, showing the same culture prevails. Its primary targets are girls and young women and LGBTQ+ children. There are also reports by female staff of sexual harassment by boys and young men.

Ofsted's rapid review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges, undertaken in June 2021, found that sexual harassment has become 'normalised' among school-age children, with girls in particular experiencing sexist name-calling, being sent/shown explicit pictures and videos, and unwanted sexual touching. It found that children often do not report such incidents, feel that RSHE and PSHE lessons do not adequately address the realities of their lives, and that staff are unsure of their responsibilities and of how to respond when children disclose to them.

Join Catherine Hodgeon, experienced youth worker and Child Sexual Exploitation expert, to further explore the evidence, how 'porn culture' translates into rape culture, and how schools, safeguarding hubs and parents/carers can adopt a collaborative approach to changing this toxic culture and helping our society's young people to feel safer.

This Zoom workshop is suitable for staff or volunteers in schools, colleges, safeguarding hubs or other organisations working with children and young people, as well as parents and carers. The Zoom link will be emailed to you shortly before the event.