Project
Sexting Risks
A short film on the risks and responsibilities associated with sexting, asking young people to rethink the question – What Would You Do?
An educator toolkit built around a short film co-produced with young people to challenge the victim-blaming that surrounds intimate image sharing.
Project Purpose
This was our very first project as an organisation, working with Ferryhill School in 2014-16 to address “risk-taking behaviour” amongst their young people. As we were keen to establish a model of co-production, with those affected by the issues we address in our work shaping our outcomes, we worked with the students to identify what they wanted to focus on.
Their choice of sexting felt hugely fitting given the Children’s Commissioner’s 2013 report had highlighted this as a “widespread practice.” What was interesting for us in developing the film and associated learning materials was that the young people began the project convinced that sexism wasn’t a relevant factor, whilst the report had identified sexting to be “overwhelmingly a result of young men pestering young women for intimate photographs.”
Project outcomes
100% felt more confident in understanding relationships
100% of our student steering group felt more confident in their understanding of relationships as a result of their involvement in our project, recognising they “shouldn’t be all about sex” and that a relationship “needs trust” and “mutual agreement.”
100% improved understanding of sexting risks and consequences
100% felt that they were more confident in their understanding of sexting risks and consequences, recognising it as being against the law if you’re under age and that “it can leave people emotionally damaged.”
94% of educators felt more confident discussing theme with young people
When we delivered our training based around What Would You Do? And the linked educator resource to youth workers in 2023, 94% of participants felt the workshop made them more confident to explore the themes with young people, sharing that we had given them, “Great ideas for activities with young people.”
90% of trainee teachers felt more confident addressing sex and relationships with teenagers
When we delivered a workshop on this content to trainee teachers on Newcastle University’s PGCE programme, 90% reported that the session had helped grow their confidence to address sex & relationships with teenagers with 93% commenting that it had provided them with strategies they would be able to use in their own classroom practice.
Bringing the project to life
Student Steering Group
Our student steering group highlighted the issues relating to sex and relationships that most concerned them and which they felt needed to be addressed. We held a residential weekend with a range of artists and specialist partners exploring these issues to help the young people select the most resonant theme.
The co-production process
The student steering group worked closely with Associate Artists Rupert Philbrick and Sheryl Jenkins to create a plot, characters and script for their short sexting-themed film, which they starred in, with filming taking place in and around Ferryhill School.
Big Learning Day
The young people planned and co-facilitated an off-timetable day for their peers, meeting each week for several months to devise activities to help their peers unpick the key learning points prompted by their film. We went on to collate these activities and discussion points into an educator toolkit with a linked CPD.
Our
Impact
Related Materials
What Would You Do?
Purchase a digital or hard copy of our Sexting-themed resource What Would You Do? This comes with a short film co-created with young people and can be used to develop understanding around the laws, risks and consequences associated with sending intimate images.
Find out more
What’s All the Fuss About?
Purchase one or more images from What’s All the Fuss About? in poster or postcard form to send to a friend or display in your school, youth group or community centre.
Find out moreBook our CPD to enhance your understanding of the laws, risks and consequences associated with sexting and how you could creatively explore these with your young people.
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