Tea and consent

Source

​THE founder of Bolton community group Yes Matters will be showcasing a video about sexual consent at a personal safety event at the University of Bolton.

Gemma Aitchison, who went to Little Lever High School, has been campaigning for better sexual education for young people since the murder of her sister Sasha Marsden in 2013.

She will show the video, entitled Tea and Consent, which was created by Thames Valley Police, and compares sex to drinking a cup of tea to explain what constitutes as sexual consent.

The personal safety event, which takes place tomorrow, will feature exhibitors including Self Defence Society, Bolton Integrated Drug and Alcohol Service (BIDAS), Sanctuary, Samaritans, Student Safe Zones, Bullying and Harassment, Hate Crime, the fire service, National Grid, GMP, NHS. Bolton Street Angels and Endsleigh.

Miss Aitchinson, who is studying youth and community work, said: "The police have started using the video as a part of their campaign so the uni has said I can show it at the safety event.

“We will be talking about sexual harassment, sexual assault and consent – such as what is appropriate behaviour towards people and where victims can go to get support in uni.

“We will also discuss victim blaming and the ‘boys will be boys’ and ‘lad’ culture, and how people should be preventing their children from getting into these situations.”

Sasha died on January 31, 2013, when she was lured to a Blackpool hotel by its owner David Minto.

When the youngster rebuffed the advances of the sexual predator, she was ferociously attacked with a kitchen knife as she tried to escape.