Young People lead the way in new EA toolkit to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls

This innovative resource is the result of a year-long collaboration involving nine Youth Voice groups, supported by EA Youth Service as part of wider youth participation work on the EVAWG Strategy. 

Working alongside TEO and researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, young people identified the need for accessible, youth-friendly tools to explore issues such as healthy relationships, respect, gender equality, and challenging harmful behaviours.

Youth groups from Portrush Youth Centre, North Belfast Area Project, MENCAP, Brownlow Youth Centre, Oasis and Scotch Street Youth, Cookstown Area Project, and Mid & East Antrim Youth Voice played a central role in shaping the themes, messages, and design of the resource. Their creativity and leadership transformed early ideas into a professionally designed educational tool, now endorsed by TEO.

At the launch event, young people unveiled the resource, shared their experiences of co-designing it, and invited guests, including Youth Voice groups, EA leadership, the Department of Education and partner organisations, to test the interactive board game.

Paul Deighan, Head of Regional Services for EA Youth Service, also announced the recruitment of an EVAWG Ambassadors Programme, a Regional Thematic Youth Voice Project aimed at amplifying young people’s voices in delivering The Executive Office Strategy.

He said: “This resource shows what’s possible when we genuinely listen to young people and involve them in decisions that affect their lives. 

“We are proud to support its rollout across youth services to embed positive, preventative approaches within the curriculum. The young people involved demonstrated commitment, insight, and leadership, ensuring All Equal All Safe truly reflects their needs and voices.

“We are also launching the EVAWG Ambassadors programme to harness the passion and potential of young leaders across NI to champion gender equality and advocate for eliminating violence against women and girls.”

Speaking at the launch event, Junior Minister Aisling Reilly said: “The ‘Raise Your Game’ boardgame and the All Equal All Safe toolkit are excellent resources thoughtful, creative and genuinely engaging. I’ve no doubt they will have a huge impact when they are shared more widely with young people across schools and other youth settings.

“These fantastic new resources, designed by young people for young people, will help to drive a cultural shift – one that will lead to better outcomes for women and girls, and ultimately for everyone in our society.”

Junior Minister Joanne Bunting said: “I am delighted to see the launch of these two creative and innovative resources. They will help our young people across Northern Ireland, will prompt consideration and discussion of the issue and reach them in a way that make sense to them to better understand their own, and others’ boundaries, and know how to take action towards ending violence against women and girls.

“I want to commend the young people for the part they played in the design and development of these important initiatives that will help promote respect, equality and healthier relationships.”

Starting in the New Year, All Equal All Safe will be available to all statutory and voluntary youth settings across Northern Ireland through workshops and events, equipping youth workers and practitioners to deliver high-quality group work focused on respect, equality, safety, and healthy relationships.