Young people in Renfrewshire talk mentorships in violence prevention with creator Jackson Katz

Young people from Renfrewshire and surrounding areas gathered together in a youth assembly with the creator and co-founder of Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme—the first large-scale global prevention and peer mentoring leadership initiative for young people.

Renowned American educator and author Dr Jackson Katz spoke with more than 200 young people at a special gender-based violence youth assembly held in Paisley Town Hall. Young people also heard from Nicola Sykes, a senior education officer from Education Scotland, about how schools across the country are tackling gender-based violence through the MVP programme.

The Action for Change event was held in Renfrewshire and organised by Renfrewshire Council’s Youth Services and Children’s Services, and Education Scotland.

All Renfrewshire schools have established the MVP programme, equipping young people with the skills they need to tackle violence when they see it and provide peer support.

Across Scotland, the majority of secondary schools have embedded the MVP programme, with more than 6,000 mentors delivering over 8,000 MVP lessons.

Renfrewshire’s young people voted preventing violence as their top priority at a youth assembly held during 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The Action for Change youth assembly gives young people the chance to have their voice heard and directly influence how the Council and its partners support young people to prevent violence. It’s one of many events led by Youth Services and Children’s Services as part of Young and Equally Safe in Renfrewshire, which aims to tackle gender-based violence affecting young people, across schools and communities

Ruaridh Keating, one of Renfrewshire’s Young and Equally Safe (YES) Leaders, said: “It’s important to talk about gender-based violence so people’s voices are heard and it’s not a topic that’s brushed under the rug and it’s more publicised than it has been in the past.”

Amy-Ellen O’Neill is another YES Leader. She explained: “Talking about gender-based violence can help people feel safer to open up about things that have happened to them. Especially if everyone talks about it. It raises awareness of the issue.”

Jackson Katz said: “I brag about what Scotland is doing all over the world. Over the last 12, 13 years, there has been a systematic approach to implementing the MVP programme across the country.

“MVP is a leadership programme for young people to help them have the tools to speak up and challenge and interrupt abusive behaviour. We focus on men’s violence against women, sexual harassment and assault, domestic and relationship abuse, but it is about all forms of violence. The model helps young people become leaders, with young people mentoring younger peers and building their confidence in speaking out.

“We are all in this together. Young people are facing lots of challenges. The MVP programme helps young people to speak up and say, ‘That’s not cool,’ or take a person aside and ask, ‘I see you’re experiencing something. Is there any way I can help?’ It helps young people become constructive leaders among their peers.”

Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “This event has been a fantastic opportunity for young people to come together and make their voice heard. Real change happens when we listen to what young people have to say.

“Hearing about the work happening in our schools through the Mentors in Violence Prevention and Young and Equally Safe programmes has been inspiring. Young people are using their voices and experiences to challenge harmful behaviours, support one another and lead the way in creating safer, more equal communities.

“As a local authority, we are listening to young people and we will build a future free from violence and inequality with young people. Our Youth Services, Community Learning and Development, and schools will continue to work together to support young people across Renfrewshire. The work they do is invaluable.”

Gillian Hamilton, Chief Executive of Education Scotland, said: “Education Scotland is pleased to be a part of this important national youth engagement event to promote gender equality across Scotland.

“Gender-based violence and violence in schools more generally has become an increasing concern of late and it is important that we work together to address and challenge this type of behaviour. That requires education, transparency and coordinated action.

“Speaking and listening to the experiences of children and young people in Scottish schools is a great starting point in understanding how we can tackle this contentious topic, and it gives us the best opportunity to try and intervene as early as possible to prevent these type of behaviours escalating.

“Programmes like Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) are vital tools in helping to deliver the right support to schools, settings and local authorities and just last year we announced the launch the ‘Challenging Online Misogyny’ resource, which was developed to give pupils guidance on how to speak to their peers to empower them to challenge their thinking and speak up on gender-based violence.

“I hope those in attendance at this event find the discussions useful and effective in addressing and challenging gender-based violence.”

Renfrewshire Council is also working with I Am Me Scotland, NSPCC Scotland and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership to develop a new campaign with young people that will raise awareness of child sexual exploitation.