In December 2021, I was raped on a night out. I don’t think I could actually say that word for several weeks after but that’s what happened. I'm not the same person that I was in my first term at uni, and for a long time I worried that it overshadowed who I was in a detrimental way. This was something that consumed me, and I literally thought about it every hour of every day.
Sexual Violence rates at University are higher than ever, and are often overlooked by higher education leaders. It is effectively becoming a normalised part of the student experience.
This is why I have founded Academics Against Assault. Students deserve prevention against sexual violence around campus, as well as support. Navigating it myself, I have first-hand experience with its gaps, and how neglecting this problem can impact lives. Already I have trialled compulsory modules within Societies, developed leaflets for both survivors and supports navigating sexual violence at University, and confronted rape stigma around campuses across the UK.
So, why do we need your funding?
Since 2022 our expenses have been limited, and we have worked to provide digital resources via Instagram and our linktree. I now oversee a team of 8 volunteers, and we desperately need your help expanding our campaign. We are on track to be a registered CIC by 2026, but until then we rely on crowdfunding to cover the cost of...
- printing costs, for example "Survivors Guide" & "How to Support a Survivor" leaflets in student spaces around the country
- travel expenses
- website domain
It would mean the world to me personally but also to survivors across the country to see this campaign in every possible student space. We are sick of being silenced and shamed, and we deserve to be acknowledged, supported and heard.
Instagram- AcademicsAgainstAssault
https://www.instagram.com/academicsagainstassault/