Workshops designed to get children talking about gender-based violence have been started by Sheffield Wednesday FC.

The Owl’s Community Programme have been running weekly ‘Youth Inspires’ sessions at Wincobank Village Hall, to teach children about the problem of violence towards women.

Molly Bulmer, Youth and Integration Coordinator at Wednesday, said: “Talking about domestic abuse, consent, stereotypes and why these things exist, as well as how we can challenge these issues and make society a safer place for women and girls, gets young people thinking about the causes of the issues stemming considerably from an outdated patriarchal society. 

“With this in mind, they can also consider that if the causes are so outdated, why are the consequences still so habitual?”

Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that women were more likely to experience violent crime in the year ending March 2024.

A higher proportion of women experienced domestic abuse (6.6%), stalking (4%), sexual assault (3.4%), and harassment (11.2%) that year compared with men (3.0%, 2.3%, 0.8% and 6.6%).

Women were also disproportionately represented by victims of domestic-abuse related crimes, with 72.5% of victims being female.

A spokesperson from Sheffield Women’s Collective said: “We need to educate young people on what abuse is and how to identify it. 

“We need to have conversations with boys and young men about what is and isn’t healthy behaviour in a relationship.”

Ms Bulmer said that the sessions have gone very well so far, allowing the children to challenge stereotypes about their peers and start conversations to try and prevent future abuse and violence. 

Activities in the sessions have included discussions about relationships and consent, as well as the chance for the kids involved to design board games about healthy relationships.

Ms Bulmer said: “We’re hopeful that this work will prevent abuse in future as young people know how to treat partners and how to behave themselves.

“This ultimately makes society a safer place for everyone and reduces the number of incidents of violence against women and girls.”

The Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme hosts these sessions every Wednesday from 5-7pm, welcoming local children between the ages of 10 and 16.

Alan Crompton, a trustee at Wincobank Village Hall said: “I think the sessions are having a positive effect, we don’t seem to see so many kids just running wild round the village hall and causing problems for the old people who live in the flats just above.

“Whenever the Community Programme people at Hillsborough are happy to send their team to the village hall, we will always be happy to see them.”