A Year of Impact: Celebrating the Success of SEND Consent Work at STARS Dorset
Over the past year, the team at STARS Dorset has been quietly building something incredibly important: specialist consent education and support for young people and adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
What began as a response to a clear gap in services has grown into a pioneering programme that supports education settings, community organisations, and the SEND community across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, and is now expanding across Dorset.
Responding to a Critical Need
The programme began in April 2025 when Hannah, a specialist Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) with extensive experience supporting clients with SEND, moved into the engagement team to develop targeted prevention and education work.
Through workshops, professional advice and community outreach, Hannah has helped schools and organisations navigate conversations that can often feel difficult but are essential.
As Hannah explains, “We recognised that there was a real gap when it came to accessible conversations about sex, relationships and consent for people with SEND. Our work has been about building trust with schools, professionals and the community so that these conversations can happen safely and in a way that people understand.”
Over the past year, this work has grown significantly, with well over 100 students already supported through workshops, drop-in sessions and tailored engagement activities.
Building Trust and Accessible Resources
A key part of the programme has been helping organisations make information about consent and sexual violence accessible for everyone.
This has included developing adapted resources such as:
- Image-based communication materials
- BSL-supported information
- Accessible guides for attending police appointments
- Lanyard cards to support communication in stressful situations
Hannah also works directly with staff teams to help them frame conversations appropriately for their students and service users.
This collaborative approach means that organisations are better equipped to support their communities, while individuals with SEND gain clearer information about boundaries, safety and consent.
Empowering the SEND Community
One of the most powerful outcomes of the programme has been increased confidence within the SEND community to speak up about their experiences.
By providing accessible education and trusted support, more individuals have felt able to disclose concerns or report incidents.
STARS Dorset CEO Helen Stevens said, “While ‘trauma-informed’ and ‘neurodiversity’ are widely discussed, very few services are delivering specific consent and sexual violence prevention work tailored to the SEND community. Yet we know that people with SEND are disproportionately vulnerable. This work is helping to fill that gap in a meaningful way.”
Helen also highlights the link between trauma and neurodiversity, noting that behaviours sometimes attributed solely to ADHD or autism can also reflect trauma responses, making specialist understanding essential.
Community Partnerships Making a Difference
The programme has grown through strong partnerships with education providers and community organisations across the region.
A recent highlight was Thrive Fest, a SEND community event that brought together organisations, young people and families, made possible through the relationships built during the programme.
The work has also expanded into wider community initiatives, including collaborations with transport providers and colleges to promote safe travel and respectful behaviour on public transport.
These partnerships are helping to create safer, more informed communities beyond the classroom.
Expanding Across Dorset
Thanks to the success of the work in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, the programme is now naturally expanding across Dorset.
Many of the organisations already working with STARS have branches across the county, making it possible to extend the programme’s reach while building on the strong foundations already established.
Helen explains:
“This work started by recognising a real need in our community. The success we’ve seen shows just how important it is. As we expand across Dorset, we want to work alongside partners who share our commitment to making consent education accessible for everyone.”
Looking Ahead
Over the coming months, STARS Dorset will be sharing stories from the programme as part of a campaign highlighting the impact of SEND-focused consent education.
The goal is not simply to celebrate success, but to invite partners, organisations and community members to help shape the future of this work.
As Hannah concluded, “This programme has grown because people care deeply about making their environments safer and more inclusive. We’re excited to keep building those partnerships and to keep learning from the SEND community itself.”
By continuing to listen, collaborate and innovate, STARS Dorset is ensuring that consent education is truly inclusive, and that everyone, regardless of ability or communication style, has the knowledge and confidence to understand their rights and relationships. https://starsdorset.org/