1 day Ago By D R
The success of the groundbreaking new Netflix drama Adolescence has brought the issues of misogyny and male violence against women and girls (VAWG) into sharp focus. That is the view of North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, who said an “epidemic of misogyny and sexual violence is something that we all need to recognise and confront.” The programme, which has been viewed more than 20 million times worldwide, focuses on the arrest of a 13-year-old schoolboy for the murder of a female classmate.
Its portrayal has both won praise and sparked conversations around one of the key issues of our age. In July 2024, the UK’s National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing declared VAWG a national emergency and, as part of a strong local emphasis on partnership and co-operation, North Wales is leading the way in educating young people about this scourge. ‘Don’t Steal My Future’, a project aiming to raise awareness of sexual violence and the dangers of grooming, pornography, and misogyny, recently received funding to run activities in schools across North Wales.
It is part of the North Wales Serious Violence Response Strategy, which works with communities to prevent and reduce serious violence across the region. ‘Don’t Steal My Future’ came about following the murder of Sarah Everard as a response to rising concerns about sexual violence in society. The format is a three-hour workshop delivered to children and young people, which focuses on real life examples and information presented in a sensitive manner to help educate attendees about what sexual violence is, its prevalence and the impact of it, not only for survivors but also for offenders and their families.
The project is run by the Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre North Wales (RASASCNW) which is based in Bangor and provides information, specialist support and therapy to anyone aged three and over who has experienced any kind of sexual abuse or violence either recently or in the past. “Dramas like Adolescence help shine a light on the dangers of male violence against women and girls and this is compounded by the negative and damaging views we see across social media from influencers like Andrew Tate,” said Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales. “This epidemic of misogyny and sexual violence is something that we all need to recognise and confront.
We can do this by raising awareness of this subject in an age-appropriate and careful way with young people so that we can keep them safe and this is exemplified by ‘Don’t Steal My Future’. “Combating violence against women and girls is a key part of my plan for fighting crime across the region and I am pleased that we are taking a lead on this here in North Wales with projects like ‘Don’t Steal My Future’ and that we have been able to support it through the Serious Violence Response Strategy.” Gaynor McKeown, CEO, Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre North Wales (RASASCNW), commented: “We at RASASC North Wales identified the increase in harmful sexual behaviour between children and young people, and this was exacerbated by COVID when many young people were being influenced by things they saw on the internet.
“Child sexual abuse is estimated to cost the UK around £10.1 billion annually and reports to us are growing year on year, with 2024/25 being our busiest year for referrals. “We wanted to do something to address the increase in misogyny which women and girls were reporting and to educate young people on the impact of harmful sexual behaviour, such as sexting, sending or sharing of nudes, the effects of pornography on the brain and the risks of online grooming.
So ‘Don’t Steal My Future’ was created. “Our programme is unlike any other in the UK, as it was created with children and young people and has been developed as a direct result of them identifying needs. “Importantly it also explains the impact of sexually harmful behaviour; not just on the victim, but also on the perpetrator and their family, something which has been clearly described in the Netflix drama Adolescence.
” ‘Don’t Steal My Future’ has been particularly praised for its potential to prompt disclosure of past or ongoing abuse and for its ability to signpost avenues for support. To learn more about RASASCNW and ‘Don’t Steal My Future’ visit: www.rasawales.
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