Student version of Responding to Sexual Violence Disclosures workshop launches
Sign up now for first virtual session being held on Tuesday, October 26
The Sexual Violence Resource Centre and the R2D Staff Facilitation Team are excited to announce that the Responding to Sexual Violence Disclosures workshop is now available to students at the University of Manitoba. Developed this past year, this workshop is open to all students regardless of program, year of study, or student status. The University of Manitoba is committed to building a safe and inclusive campus community where survivors of sexual violence know they can receive the supports they need. An important part of supporting someone who has experienced sexual violence is being prepared to respond to a disclosure.
Led by the campus Virtual Sexual Violence Education Facilitator and a trained student facilitator, participants will learn about sexual violence and the impacts it can have on those who experience it, explore what a supportive response looks like, discuss available on- and off-campus resources, and recognize their own limits in offering support.
“Often times people first turn to someone they trust to disclose what has happened to them. How that first disclosure is received can have a huge impact on the individual’s healing and how they move forward. Through this training, we hope participants will feel confident in responding in a caring and supportive way” explains Emily Livingston, Virtual Sexual Violence Education Facilitator.
Held via Zoom, the workshop continues to be interactive, providing participants with the opportunity to engage with one another in group discussions, practice receiving disclosures for different scenarios, and receive feedback from facilitators.
“As students, we are often the first ones to receive a disclosure of sexual violence from our peers – it’s important we have the skills to effectively respond and support our friends,” says Riley Shannon, Student Facilitator. “It’s great to now have a program, developed with students in mind and facilitated by students that helps our peers feel equipped to respond in a survivor-centered and supported way.”
First developed in 2017, Responding to Sexual Violence Disclosures was launched as a training opportunity exclusive to staff and faculty members. Over the past year, the Responding to Disclosures team has been working to develop a student-centered version of the workshop. The first session was held this past summer with Residence Life to ensure all of their Resident Assistants had access to this training. We are pleased to now invite all University of Manitoba students to take part in attending a session.
All students are welcome to register for our first virtual session being held on Tuesday, October 26th from 5-8 p.m by emailing emily [dot] livingston [at] umanitoba [dot] ca. Sessions can also be scheduled for specific student groups or faculties on campus. Please contact Emily for more information.