Saffron Interactive and AVA to launch Digital Prevention Platform and elearning course to inspire action against abuse
Saffron Interactive, leading innovators in the learning technologies sector, working alongside AVA (Against Violence and Abuse) in a Comic Relief funded project, has created a Digital Prevention Platform and elearning course to help practitioners take the correct steps to safeguard children who disclose instances of abuse and implement a whole school approach to prevent violence against women and girls.
“Before this project, there was no one place where students and practitioners could access information relating to all types of abuse. This desperately needed to change”, says Karim Ladak, Chief Operating Officer at Saffron. “This prevention platform has united tools and resources for the first time. We aim to get people talking and change the taboo culture around reporting cases of abuse. We want all those involved in safeguarding children to know what to do and how to do it by just going to one place where they can not only find information, but as well as being able to contribute their experiences so that others can also learn from their practical experience”.
The 30 minute elearning course explains different types of abuse, and how to deal with disclosures of abuse in an engaging and sensitive way - ultimately motivating learners to take action. The prevention platform is the UK’s first comprehensive resource hub and toolkit on the topic. Practitioners will also be able to contribute case studies and information others might find helpful. The elearning and website underpin AVA’s highly successful face to face programmes.
“What I love most about working with AVA is our dedication to innovation and sharing resources to make things better”, says Joanna Sharpen, children and young people's project co-ordinator at AVA. “This tool will help students and practitioners alike to feel comfortable talking about abuse and taking the correct steps to prevent it”.
This elearning employs storytelling techniques, a safe space feature and innovative HTML5 coding, and signposts learners to further resources. Built in diagnostics demonstrate that, having completed the course , the number of people who felt empowered to take action on abuse jumped from 13% to 43%, whilst those who felt comfortable defining abuse jumped from 19% to 47%.
“This platform and course demonstrates how elearning can change behaviour in a meaningful and impactful way,” says Noorie Sazen, CEO at Saffron. “We hope that this course will help millions of vulnerable abuse victims across the country”.
The course is available on the AVA online prevention platform.
About AVA
Against Violence and Abuse (AVA) is a national second tier service working to end all forms of violence against women and girls. AVA provides a range of services to organisations and agencies working in the voluntary and statutory sector as well as to individual practitioners. AVA offer consultancy, training, resources and guidance. More information about AVA is available at www.avaproject.org.uk