STARS Dorset Reflects on Groundbreaking Work to Reduce Serious Violence Across Dorset and Looks Forward with Ambitious Plans
STARS Dorset, the pan-Dorset charity providing specialist support to individuals affected by sexual violence, is proud to celebrate the success of a series of major initiatives aimed at reducing serious violence across the county. The STARS Dorset Engagement team have been delivering a wide range of projects over the past 12 months, making a meaningful and lasting impact in local communities. The charity is also looking ahead in 2025 with ambitious plans to build further on its impactful work.
Led by Engagement Team Leader Stephanie Lee, the Consent Engagement workers Kyra, Amy and Hannah have developed and expanded services beyond counselling and 1:1 support to include a strong focus on education, prevention, and community engagement.
Reflecting on the legacy of this work, CEO Helen Stevens said:
“Over the past year, our team has been committed to delivering projects that don’t just respond to trauma but seek to actively prevent it. We are proud to be creating a culture of awareness, resilience, and safety across Dorset. This is about educating, enabling and empowering people of all ages, building stronger communities, and ensuring a safer future for everyone.”
Key projects and activities delivered over the last 12 months include:
- Early Years Settings: Delivery of educational workshops and events focusing on early understanding of body anatomy, autonomy and respect in relationships with others.
- Schools: Consent education workshops, collaborations with Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT), and tailored SEND consent education resources.
- Colleges: Establishing a single point of contact in Bournemouth & Poole College, Weymouth College, and Kingston Maurward College; offering student drop-in sessions, interactive workshops, and awareness campaigns across campuses.
- Universities: Comprehensive engagement at Health Sciences University, Bournemouth University, and Arts University Bournemouth, including professional development, weekly student drop-ins, creative collaborations, Freshers’ activities, and student society events.
- Police Collaborations: SAFEBUS nighttime initiative in Bournemouth town centre and the Taxi Watch project, training taxi drivers to identify and support vulnerable individuals.
- Community Outreach: Drop-in sessions provided at Access Wellbeing, Lantern Trust, Hope House, The Retreat, and Family Hubs across Dorset.
Stephanie Lee, Engagement Team Leader concluded, “Building on the momentum of the past year, STARS Dorset will continue their community presence by attending upcoming events such as the Sherborne Fair and PRIDE. New campaigns, including #seemeforwhoIam, #JustDon’t, and the summer-long #PeeronPier beach campaign based on Bournemouth seafront, will raise awareness around consent and safety”.
“We understand that there is a lot of stigma and confusion when addressing the impact and issues of rape and sexual assault. A lot of communities are fearful – they want to speak up or challenge but aren’t quite sure how to do this. Our team is there to listen and engage communities in meaningful dialogue that helps to build confidence around challenging conversations. We believe that empowering communities will help to call out the wrong behaviours and attitudes so that change can start to happen”
For more information about STARS Dorset and their support services, please visit www.starsdorset.org, email info@starsdorset.org, or call 01202 308840.