A CAMPAIGN to prevent children and young people asking their peers for sexual images will now be available for use by schools in Surrey.
“Ok To Ask?” launched on social media in March 2024 with a series of short video clips depicting teenagers responding to pressure from their peers to share or request nudes.
The campaign, led by Surrey Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), actively involved young people throughout the research and development phases. It was designed to initiate thought, challenge perceptions, and empower young people to reject harmful behaviour while supporting their peers.
Now, a teaching and learning resource developed by Surrey Healthy Schools in partnership with the OPCC will ensure the initiative can be used as a cornerstone of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) classes across the county.
Funding for both initiatives was secured by the OPCC from the Home Office’s What Works Fund in 2022. The former Government granted £1million to provide a package of support for young people to help combat violence against women and girls.
The funding supported both the Ok To Ask? campaign and specialist training for PSHE leads in schools and a host of professionals in Surrey to develop life skills and support their health and wellbeing.
As the project draws to an end, Surrey Healthy Schools has developed a package of teaching and learning resources for children in Key Stages three to five.
This includes guidance on facilitating effective PSHE lessons with a focus on digital safety, assessment guidance and activities, three lesson plans, and advice for teachers.
Schools boost
Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, said: “Youth-produced sexual imagery is a widespread issue across the country, and has considerable risks for young people.
“We want to challenge perceptions that it should be considered just a ‘normal’ part of teenage life and provide support for those who might be in a situation where they are under pressure to do so.
“Nearly a third of all sexual images of children found online are youth-produced, showing how harmful this behaviour can be.
“The crime of ‘sextortion’ – a form of blackmail using sexual images for gain – is rising in the county. Supporting young people with making decisions and understanding the impact of these is an important part of preventing this harm.
‘Insightful’
“The Force’s primary aim will be to safeguard young people, but it is also a crime to take, make, show or possess indecent images of any person below the age of 18. That is true even if the person with those images is also under 18.
“Ok To Ask? has been hugely successful, with millions of views, and we are determined to work alongside young people to support them in navigating some of these challenging issues.
“I’m delighted that my brilliant Commissioning team were able to secure funding for this crucial project, and that Surrey Police, working closely with young people from across the county, have produced such an insightful campaign.”
For more information, or to access the resources, visit the Surrey Healthy Schools website. Parents and carers can also access support via the Ok To Ask? homepage.
| “Ok To Ask?” launched in March 2024 with a series of short video clips depicting teenagers responding to pressure from their peers to share or request nudes. The campaign, which actively involved young people throughout the research and development phases, was designed to trigger thought, challenge perceptions, and empower young people to reject harmful behaviour while supporting their peers. The digital performance of the “Ok To Ask?” campaign is extremely promising, with more than six million impressions to our target audiences. But, when evaluating the success of a digital campaign aimed at behaviour change, particularly one encouraging young people to reflect on their beliefs and attitudes, the metrics of success differ from traditional campaigns focused on clicks and sales. Success isn’t about immediate transactional outcomes but about deep, reflective engagement with the content. And that’s where you come in… The “Ok To Ask?” campaign has proven to be both impactful and effective, sparking conversations among young people about consent, boundaries, and respect, but we need these conversations to continue to create meaningful change. |