An elected Labour Young People Champion at Cheshire East Council spoke to Crewe Nub News about an important sexual harassment campaign that has recently launched.

Cllr James Barber represents the Broken Cross and Upton ward in Macclesfield. He has been elected since 2019.

Cllr Barber said: "An OFSTED review into sexual abuse in schools and colleges found that sexual harassment had become 'normalised' within educational settings.

"Nearly 90% of girls and 50% of boys said they'd been sent explicit content online, whilst 92% of girls and 74% of boys said sexist name-calling happens regularly to them or their peers.

"These statistics are truly sickening. Our young people are being subjected to this 'normalised' culture where they are growing up having to 'put up' with sexual harassment. Most who took part in the review said they didn't feel the curriculum was fit to change things.

"Last year, I approached the Children and Families department at Cheshire East Council to put some sort of educational campaign to change attitudes and challenge behaviours. From our first meeting back in May 2021 to now, we have put together the SHOUT campaign (Sexual Harassment – together we can SHOUT it out).

"As a White Ribbon Ambassador and a passionate advocate for raising awareness of, and tackling, sexual harassment, domestic abuse, and sexual violence, this is a campaign that is close to my heart, which is why I commissioned it.

"Nobody should be subjected to this awful behaviour.

"Setting up a working group involving myself, Council Officers, partners, and young people, we carried out our own survey of young people in Cheshire East – the results of which were stark and concerning. This is an issue that is a genuine concern to young people across the borough, and this demonstrated to us exactly why SHOUT is needed.

"Using a variety of media to engage with young people aged between 11-18, parents and carers, schools, professionals, and representatives, we want to ensure young people across the borough know how and when to call out inappropriate behaviour, and how to have healthy relationships themselves.

"The campaign will aim to prevent these issues from arising, educating young people, especially boys, about what is and isn't acceptable."

The SHOUT campaign was formally launched on 10 March at an event attended by young people, Council Officers, and partners.

It won a British Youth Council award for Campaign of the Year.

All the resources are readily available on the SHOUT website, which can be found here.

Cllr Barber added: "Now the campaign has been launched, we want to be getting our message into schools through lesson plans, assemblies and talks with students. This is the next challenge facing us, but I know we will get there with the brilliant team we've got.

"I wish to place on record my heartfelt thanks to every single Cheshire East Council Officer who has been involved in this project, as well as all our partners such as myCWA (Cheshire's Domestic Abuse charity) and Fluid (our design agency).

"Also thanks to our inspirational young people who are working tirelessly for a better future.

"There's no excuse for sexual harassment, domestic abuse, or sexual violence, and we all must stamp it out.

"I sincerely hope that everyone in the borough will be able to get behind this youth-led campaign, and I'm confident that it will be a success.

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