Low Cost Interventions
19. SHUSH (Speaking Honestly 2 Understand Sexual Harm)
SHUSH (Speaking Honestly 2 Understand Sexual Harm) is a bespoke educational initiative, aimed at tackling sexual harrassment/assault/exploitation among young people.
Delivered in schools, youth clubs, and residential homes, the project uses interactive workshops to build awareness around consent, healthy relationships, grooming, and peer pressure. It empowers young people to recognise inappropriate behaviours, report sexual harm, and make informed choices. SHUSH is designed to reduce stigma, increase disclosures, and prevent future harm by equipping participants with language, confidence, and support tools.
The cost of adopting our approach will vary depending on the level of expertise within your organisation. SHUSH has been developed by the OPCC Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) lead. Because the model was created independently, there are no external development fees attached to it.
If your organisation already has the appropriate skills and knowledge, you may be able to implement the materials with minimal additional cost.
For organisations without in‑house expertise, you may need to bring in external support to ensure safe, informed, and effective delivery.
Partner organisations may be required to agree to our partnership terms, follow safeguarding standards, and complete any necessary upskilling or training on the topics covered.
Planning & Curriculum Development: 1-2 months
Staff Training: 1 month
Pilot Sessions: 1 month
Full Rollout: Total 3-4 months
Staff Salaries & Training: £15,000-£25,000
Material Updates & Printing: £2,000-£4,000
Evaluation & Reporting: £3,000-£5,000
Outreach & Engagement: £2,000-£3,000
Total: £22,000-£37,000
Effectiveness
Highly effective, with an urgent need highlighted where 92% of girls, and 74% of boys have reported experiencing sexist name-calling.
The project has led to increased disclosures of historic abuse, where young people are gaining the language and confidence to speak out.
Interactive tools like traffic light cards and non-compulsory participation ensure psychological safety while promoting engagement, and SHUSH aligns with national findings that primary prevention is the most cost-effective and impactful strategy for reducing sexual violence.