CARA

MENU menu

Understanding Young People’s Experiences of Sexual Harm:  Supporting Students

In collaboration with young survivors in Essex, CARA and ICENA are proud to present a NEW series of five animated videos to support professionals working with children and young people to understand the impacts of sexual violence.

 

 The five animations can be accessed here:

 

“They just fob it off.” Preventing Sexual Harm in Schools

 

 

 

“It’s all about paperwork and box ticking.” Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence

 

 

 

“I felt like a burden.” Providing Support After Sexual Violence

 

 

 

“I lost all my friends.”  The Impact of Sexual Violence on Peer Groups

 

 

 

From Disclosure to Closure: Supporting Young Survivors Throughout Their Journey

 

 

 

Supporting resources for Designated Safeguarding Leads and Senior Leaders to use during INSET and continuing professional development sessions with all staff can be accessed here:

*This is a large file, with the animated videos embedded and it may take a few minutes to download.
 
The animated videos and supporting resources will be shared with Essex schools at Essex County Council Safeguarding Forums in November 2022, and will be included in the Essex County Council guidance on harmful sexual behaviour.

 

We are aware that good work is already happening in many education settings to support young survivors and prevent sexual harm, and we hope these training materials will help support schools, teachers and other professionals in developing best practice.

 

How were the animations produced?

Young survivors from across Essex were asked if they would like to share their experiences in their education setting after disclosing sexual violence. These contributions were used to create four experience scenarios.

 

The young people were aged 10 – 21 when they shared their experiences and they had all survived sexual violence whilst in primary, secondary or further education. In all cases, the person who caused the sexual harm was also a child or young person (aged under 19).

 

A range of professionals, including education staff and specialist sexual violence workers (counsellors and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors), were asked to share their experiences of supporting young survivors of sexual violence and, alongside statutory guidance, their contributions were used to create suggestions of good practice that schools and colleges can implement.

 

We are very grateful to Awards for All  for supporting this project.

 

CARA graphic