Respect (Zero Tolerance)
The Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust campaigns for the prevention of violence against women and children. Pioneering education which aims to prevent violence before it happens, as opposed to simply dealing with the consequences, the Trust identifies young people, and adults working with young people, as key target groups.
The approach it takes has been recognised as a model of good practice by the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the Home Office and the Scottish Executive.
The Respect Initiative
In 1998, the Trust published the results of a study into young people’s attitudes to violence, sex and relationships. It documented widespread tolerance of violence against women in certain circumstances.
As a result of the research, the Trust developed and piloted the Respect Initiative jointly with local authorities in Scotland. The Initiative included an integrated primary prevention programme with an education focus. ‘Respect’ programmes were developed for use in primary, secondary and youth group settings. The sessions were intended to contribute to the prevention of violence and abuse by challenging root causes, empowering young people with useful knowledge, skills and understanding, and promoting positive, non-violent relationships based on equality and respect. They were delivered to young people as part of a pilot which ran in 2001 in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Programme aims
The aims of the programme can be summarised as follows:
- to encourage young people to develop healthy relationships.
- to promote respect for self, respect for others and to respect difference.
- to challenge and decrease the tolerance of violence against women
amongst young people.
- to encourage a sense of social responsibility.
Programme content
The ‘Respect’ programme for 10 – 12 year olds is intended to be delivered as part of schools’ wider Health/PSD programmes. Specifically, it meets 5-14 attainment targets in Health Education for the Emotional and Social health strands at Level D. The ‘Respect’ programme explores the themes of:
- Communication
- Co-operation and Group Work
- Respect and Difference (2)
- Power (2)
- Being a Girl, Being a Boy (2)
It is delivered as 8 sessions, each lasting 50 minutes. Extra, optional activities are included in Variations.
Healthy Respect is currently working with primary schools in Midlothian to implement the ‘Respect’ programme, including the provision of training for teachers involved in its classroom delivery.
For further information on the Respect Initiative and the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust, go to www.zerotolerance.org.uk.
The evaluation report on the original Respect pilot can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/cru.