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Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2023: Consent matters

Trigger warning: This article contains material on sexual violence, abuse and harassment, which may be triggering or upsetting.

We all have a role to play in creating a community where people feel safe, comfortable, and accepted. As part of this commitment to each other, this Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week (6-12 February), we are encouraging everyone to gain a healthy and positive understanding of consent.

Online training opportunities and resources

Southampton: Consent for students (2022-23)
We want to help empower you to competently understand boundaries and respect those of others, as well as gain a better understanding about consent and healthy relationships in all, and every, form. The newly updated course, that you are required to complete, has five key themes: the meaning of consent, myths and the law, communicating consent, consent scenarios and help and support.

You can access the consent training course via Blackboard. It takes just 70 minutes to complete, and will equip you with invaluable knowledge for a lifetime, both personally and professionally. You will be able to recognise personal boundaries and support those around you whether now or in the future.

Online Active Bystander training
A person becomes an active bystander when they see an event or situation which is problematic, inappropriate, or harmful, and intervenes either directly or indirectly. We can all be active bystanders who help and support one another. For example, an active bystander can help build a community that does not tolerate, accept, or allow sexual violence, and does not ignore problematic situations by looking the other way, denying they are happening, or calling them something else.

This 60-minute online session will empower you to challenge poor behaviors and bring about cultural change. Register for one of the online training sessions on Eventbrite:

Tea and consent video
Many of our community may have already seen the video directly below which uses the analogy of wanting a cup of tea for sexual consent as part of an earlier police awareness campaign. The video asks us to imagine that you are making someone a cup of tea instead of initiating sex. It might be useful to refresh or enhance your understanding of consent by watching the video:

The Student Hub wellbeing support
Our wellbeing experts will be based at different locations across our campuses this week to highlight available support, and offer you the chance to win a hamper with food and wellbeing essentials:

  • Monday 6 February – Wessex Lane, Boiler House (13:00-16:00)
  • Tuesday 7 February – Wellbeing Centre, Highfield Campus (13:00-16:00)
  • Wednesday 8 February – Hartley Library, Highfield Campus (13:00-16:00)
  • Thursday 9 February – Boldrewood Campus (12:30-15:30)

Light up the night – by SUSU
This Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, you may wish to join the vigil to commemorate those who have been affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. Bring a torch and help to light up the night on Thursday 9 February, 16:00-17:00, meeting at Jubilee Plaza on Highfield Campus.

Spotlight on our support services 

 
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