The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited a Tender workshop with Jess Phillips MP to launch the new government strategy to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG). 

Held at St. Mary Magdalene C of E School in London, Sir Keir Starmer had a front row seat to a Tender workshop which harnessed the charity’s drama-based approach to explore healthy relationships, including key concepts like consent and early signs of abuse. 

Tender prevents future violence and abuse by supporting young people to develop positive behaviours and skills, challenge harmful attitudes and access support for themselves and their peers. The government’s new strategy aims to protect the next generation of children from experiencing and perpetrating VAWG, by tackling the root causes and attitudes, both online and in the real world. 

Experts in relationships education, Tender has long campaigned for the importance of prevention education in tackling VAWG and welcomes this key pillar of the government strategy. 

Susie McDonald, CEO of Tender, said:

‘Violence and abuse have gone unchecked too long. We can’t just respond – we need to prevent abuse in the first place. 

‘We welcome the strategy’s focus on prevention, which is a huge step forward. Now we need to see it in action through a commitment to funding quality relationships education for every child in every school.  

‘With 20 years’ experience, we at Tender have seen how relationships education can protect and support young people to form healthy relationships, develop critical thinking skills, recognise abuse and challenge the harmful attitudes rife online and in the real world. Prevention depends on shared language and shared responsibility: all young people need to collectively understand respect, boundaries and power. 

‘To prevent VAWG, the strategy must harness this vital lesson and make sure every child in every school has access to this high-quality relationships education.   

‘The strategy is bold and brave – I hope it receives the funding and the expertise to become a reality.’ 

Media enquiries

Tender CEO Susie McDonald MBE is available for interview.  

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