Director’s Blog – Lisa Charlotte Davis
…our fabulous creative facilitator Victoria Downes also went in and spent a day with the whole of Year 9 and a small group of sixth form peer mentors.
This day was also based around our animation Weaving Stories of Peer Sexual Abuse and the aims of the session were to help young people recognise:
📢 the impact of “low level,” highly normalised, yet nevertheless unwanted sexual behaviours – they are not just bants – they make young people feel uncomfortable and affect their wellbeing
📢 the range of options available to them in situations where they see behaviours that are making someone feel uncomfortable – being an active bystander doesn’t have to mean standing up in front of everyone and calling out someone’s harmful behaviour – we could check in quietly with the person affected later, offer to go with them to a trusted adult
It’s such a pleasure to see the impact of our youth co-produced animation, empowering young people to understand what’s not okay and what they do not actually have to put up with.
In particular, love that one of the comments from young people was that the session left them feeling “supported.” That is what we want. To create a space where people know it is ok to seek support for things that are affecting them. Where their experiences are acknowledged.
Thanks again to Northumberland County Council for commissioning this piece of work supporting Berwick at a really important moment of transition.
