As one of the responses to Ofsted’s Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges published in June of 2021, South & City College Birmingham has worked with an external provider to deliver creative workshops that raise awareness of sexual harassment and consent.

Several hundred students attended presentations, which were delivered by puppeteer Steve Wright (Routes Puppets) at Digbeth and Bordesley Green campuses. After the presentations, a smaller focus group of students explored the subject area further and gave their thoughts and experiences around such topics as social media, how they dealt with harassment, the expectations of young men today and pressures felt by young people. The responses were audio-recorded and will be used as the voices of the puppets in a bespoke training resource video for the college. This video will mean that it can be shared with more students at other campuses and be available to use throughout the year.

Steve has been a regular visitor to South & City College Birmingham over recent years, delivering the Government’s Prevent training, British Values and knife crime workshops to learners at many of our campuses. Having grown up under difficult circumstances himself, Steve uses his own lived experiences to reach out to teenagers.

Donna Kelly, Director of Student Engagement, said: “Steve has a great way of connecting with students of all ages and backgrounds and has a unique style of incorporating puppets into his presentation, which students seem to respond to.”