Project led by young people in Hastings aims to help tackle sexual harassment and violence

Maps to Manhood worked with young people and schools in Hastings, to help tackle sexual harassment and violence.

The project was set up in response to growing evidence that young men are receiving harmful messages about ‘what it means to be a man’, which affect their behaviour and relationships. This in turn affects their families, communities and society as a whole.

 What did the project set out to achieve?

The views of young people in Hastings shaped the project, it was funded by Hastings and Rother Clinical Commissioning Group, and run by social enterprise Priority 1-54. The project had several goals, including:

  • developing resources for schools and youth settings
  • holding workshops to address issues that fuel sexual harassment and mental health problems
  • growing ways to support young men’s emotional wellbeing
  • helping young people to speak out about sexual harassment and gender inequality.

The project worked with local schools to recruit young people to an advisory board. This group met five times and used their views, knowledge and experience to develop specialised resources for schools.

During the process, young women shared their experiences of offline and online sexual harassment. Young men talked about the risk of being labelled ‘attention seeking’, ridiculed, or bullied if they talked about their mental health concerns with friends. Members of the group also shared their personal experiences with mental health and gender stereotypes. The group provided a safe space for them to explore these issues.

Trying out the resources

Workshops to try out the resources were run with 51 boys and young men. After taking part in the workshops:

  • Eight in ten (82%) young men said they understood how gender stereotypes can shape their feelings and behaviour.
  • Just over three quarters (76%) said they understood the negative consequences of gender stereotypes.
  • Almost two thirds (63%) said that they understood the connection between typical perceptions of masculinity and poor mental health outcomes for boys.

Co-founder of Priority 1-54 and group facilitator Tom Goulden said;

‘‘The insight and experience of young people really helped guide these important resources. We received very positive feedback from those taking part. The workshops were a safe space for young men to explore the issues of sexual harassment and violence, toxic masculinity and mental health, and we saw real growth in their understanding of these issues.’’

Schools and youth settings can download the resources for free from Priority 1-54’s website.

Next steps

Information from the project is being used to guide a number of new activities in Hastings, and across East Sussex. Schools and youth workers are also being offered training to respond effectively to incidents of harmful sexual behaviour.

Contact Priority 1-54 on 07846 137 597 for information about Maps to Manhood.