25 November marks White Ribbon Day, a pivotal day for communities to unite in reflecting on and for taking action against violence towards women and girls. This year, our further education colleges across Wales are leading the way, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to challenge misogyny and foster cultures of respect among learners and staff. Through innovative partnerships, international collaboration, and learner-driven initiatives, the FE sector is setting a powerful standard for tackling harmful attitudes and inspiring lasting, positive change.
Taking Action Against Misogyny
Concerns regarding peer-on-peer sexual harassment in Welsh FE colleges were brought to the fore in Estyn’s 2023 report, Peer on Peer sexual harassment among 16- to 18-year-olds in Further Education (FE) colleges, which called for decisive steps to counteract misogynistic behaviours among young people. In response to this, ColegauCymru secured Taith funding to pioneer new approaches, evolving into an international Community of Practice (CoP) dedicated to identifying, addressing, and intervening in cases of misogyny within college communities.
International Exchange and Strengthening Partnerships
A partnership between ColegauCymru and Colleges and Institutes Canada is driving a robust, international response to misogyny. The CoP connects FE staff from Wales and Canada through regular online meetings, resource sharing, open discussions, and expert guest speakers. These sessions have become a vital platform for exchanging ideas and best practice, significantly enhancing the sector’s ability to address and challenge harmful attitudes in education.
In April 2025, Welsh FE staff and ColegauCymru members visiting Montreal to forge deeper connections with the Canadian Colleges. The visit highlighted the importance of hearing directly from young people when addressing misogyny and highlighted the need to engage young men and boys in frank conversations about respectful relationships. Following this, the CoP has prioritised the development of learners’ critical thinking skills, especially in navigating harmful online content, ensuring a holistic and proactive approach.
Tackling Misogyny events in Wales
Back in Wales, the CoP has developed strong links with organisations such as She Is Not Your Rehab, the acclaimed anti-violence movement from New Zealand, and Our Voice Our Journey. Together, these partnerships have delivered two major regional events in South and North Wales, drawing over 400 male learners from colleges across the country. A standout moment was the powerful presentation by Matt Brown, co-founder of She Is Not Your Rehab, whose moving personal story inspired many attendees to reflect on their own behaviours and embrace positive change. Matt’s messages of courage, accountability, and hope left a lasting impact on both learners and staff.
The transformative effect of these events is perhaps best captured in the words of a learner who sent this to Matt after the event,
“I was at your talk today in Cardiff and I just wanted to say that you saved me, you changed my life. I’ve been going through so much lately but as you said we’re taught not to talk about it so I never even admitted it to myself that I was struggling, and your talk really opened my eyes and made me realise it’s ok not to be ok.”
Beyond inspirational keynote talks, the South Wales event featured interactive workshops, giving staff and learners the opportunity to work together on practical solutions to recognise and address harmful attitudes. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many learners describing a new sense of understanding and motivation to challenge misogyny in their daily lives. One attendee from Cardiff described the event as life-changing, highlighting the value of open dialogue and shared learning.
ColegauCymru Conference 2025
In October 2025, the Canadian CoP members visited Wales to visit the colleges to continue their partnerships as well as share their experiences and knowledge. They also contributed towards the Understanding and tackling Misogyny in FE - Learnings from Canada workshop which set the plans for the next phase of the sector-wide progress.
Further Information
Tackling Misogyny and Promoting Respectful Relationships in Further Education
White Ribbon Day 2025
25 November 2025
For further information on how FE colleges across Wales are tackling misogyny and promoting respectful relationships, please contact Tanwen.James@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
