Tender is a London-based charitable organisation that works to prevent domestic violence

Domestic violence

Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...

. Founded in 2003, Tender delivers educational violence prevention programmes to secondary schools, Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) and youth centres throughout Greater London.

Mission

Tender promotes healthy relationships based on equality and respect by inviting all men, women and especially young people to actively prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence

Sexual violence

Sexual violence occurs throughout the world, although in most countries there has been little research conducted on the problem. Due to the private nature of sexual violence, estimating the extent of the problem is difficult...

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Tender aims to:

1. enable young people (5 to 25 years old) to develop positive attitudes towards relationships in order to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence
2. equip adults with the skills and resources they need to promote healthy relationships amongst young people

History

Tender was formerly known as Until the Violence Stops (UTVS), the UK arm of the V-Day

V-Day

V-Day, February 14th, is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls inspired by Eve Ensler's play, The Vagina Monologues. The movement was started in 1998 by author, playwright and activist Eve Ensler. Ensler has been quoted as saying that it was women's reactions to the...

 campaign.

Tender's main work is the TRUST Education Project. TRUST was developed out of the work of Tender's founding director and education manager that was commissioned by the South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC) to design a peer education theatre project for the Thurrock RESPECT programme in 2000. RESPECT, created by Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust, has been running since, working to prevent violence in relationships by educating young people about the early warning signs of abuse.

Tender adapted and developed the RESPECT model to work in London schools. With the funding of The Body Shop Foundation, the TRUST Education Project was piloted in April 2004 in 5 secondary schools in the London boroughs: Lambeth, Lewisham, Hammersmith, Newham, and Westminster. The TRUST Education Project has been delivered to 27 boroughs in London since its conception.

CRG Research Limited are currently conducting an independent evaluation of the Trust Education Project.

About the Trust Education Project

The TRUST Education Project aims to enable young men and women to develop healthy relationships based on respect, trust and equality and to be active citizens in creating communities that do not tolerate domestic abuse and sexual violence. The objective of the project is to change attitudes of tolerance to violence by using drama to explore issues around healthy and unhealthy relationships. Young people create a piece of theatre that represents their understanding and outlook while also educating and informing their audience, peers and local communities. In a 10 week workshop process, students explore issues around respect within relationships, good citizenship and positive communication skills.