Friday 06-12-2024 - 10:32

The last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind following the launch of my Consent Campaign. While the campaign may have come to an end, the conversations, lessons, and commitments we’ve sparked will stay with us. Together, we've built a foundation for a culture of respect, empowerment, and understanding.

The power of awareness

When we first kicked off the campaign, it was with a single goal: to raise awareness about the importance of consent and to foster an environment where everyone feels respected and heard. Whether it was through social media engagement, in person interactions or attending one of our self-defence workshops, we aimed to create a space where students could openly learn, ask questions, and challenge misconceptions about consent.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Students have actively participated in conversations and events, highlighting how necessary it is to normalise these discussions.

One of the most important takeaways from this campaign is the reminder that consent is not a single conversation but a continuous conversation. It’s not just about saying “yes” or “no” but about ongoing communication, respect for boundaries, and ensuring that everyone involved is comfortable and heard. As your Student Union, we are committed to ensuring that our campus is a space where these principles are ingrained into student life.

Our campaign’s success has been driven by the collective effort of students so therefore we want to give a special shoutout to you all for letting us be the voice piece on this difficult topic.

Moving forward, we encourage everyone to continue to stay engaged. Keep talking about consent with your friends, family, and peers. Speak out against harmful behaviour, and don’t shy away from uncomfortable conversations. Each one of us has a role to play in making this campus a place where respect is at the forefront of every interaction.

Our conversation didn’t just stop with the discussion of sexual consent, but we took a whole day alongside our Women’s Officer Millie to talk about spiking. After speaking with students, it became clear no one knew the signs of their drink being spiked. We spoke directly to 101 students, had 162 likes on social media and 5,903 views on our videos, so thank you for interacting with us!

Moving forward together

In closing, we want to thank everyone who has been part of this campaign—from those who attended workshops to those who helped share our message. The success of this initiative was made possible because of your passion and dedication. But let us not forget, the true measure of success will be seen in how we carry forward these conversations and continue to build a community where consent is not just understood but celebrated.

We look forward to continuing this journey with you all. Let's keep talking, let's keep listening, and let’s keep building a campus culture where everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered.

Thank you for making this campaign meaningful. Together, we are creating the change we wish to see.

Lily x