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Strengthening Relationships
and Sex Education

info@rsehub.org.uk

Top tips on how to talk about sexual assault and rape

  • Be familiar with your school’s Child Protection policy regarding disclosure and consider the best interests of young people when making decisions about information sharing.
  • Ensure you start the session with an extended group agreement, focusing on ‘looking after yourself’ during the session, disclosures and confidentiality, and detailing where young people can get support after the session.
  • Use the Sexual Offences Act definitions to create clarity around terms such as ‘consent’, ‘rape’ and ‘sexual assault’.
  • Research local and national support services such as sexual assault referral centres, rape crisis centres, Childline and counselling services for children and young people, and include a section on support services.
  • Explore sexual assault and rape in the context of healthy and unhealthy relationships, to ensure young people can recognise the warning signs of a controlling relationship, pressure and coercion.
  • Remember that young people experience sexual assault and rape as part of teen relationships - highlight national research such as the NSPCC report  
  • Allow the opportunity to discuss positive, consensual sexual experiences to enable young people to contrast this with abusive situations. For example Brook’s Sex: Positive Campaign.
  • Avoid victim blaming and gender stereotypes when talking about staying safe, risk taking, and abusive behaviours.

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