Tender responded to YEF’s new research on young people’s relationships, which found that the equivalent of one teenager in every classroom has experienced abuse from their partner. 

Susie McDonald, CEO of Tender, said:

‘This crucial research represents thousands of young people’s voices. Their experiences demonstrate the climate of violence and abuse surrounding our young people.

‘Emotional abuse is a widespread problem, with smartphones and social media enabling further harmful behaviours from checking someone’s messages to sharing explicit images.

‘But we do know how to tackle this. By equipping young people with the skills to navigate these situations safely, and challenging the damaging beliefs which enable abuse, we can protect them from becoming victims and indeed perpetrators of abuse.

‘Organisations like Tender have proven experience in supporting schools and protecting young people through specialist relationships education that develops key skills such as self-regulation, critical thinking and conflict resolution, and contesting harmful victim-blaming and perpetrator-excusing attitudes.

‘We have the solution – now we need action. We support YEF’s call for all schools to have specialist VAWG leads, as well as the funding for their training. Schools must be supported and encouraged to bring in specialist training and support from external organisations, which the Department for Education has recognised can enhance delivery of these subjects (RSHE Guidance, 2025).

‘All young people must have access to this critical education, but as YEF argues, this will take funding, expertise – and a serious commitment from our government.’

Media enquiries
Tender CEO Susie McDonald MBE is available for interview.

For interview requests and further media enquiries, please contact katevine@tender.org.uk and isadora@tender.org.uk.