What is the MVP Programme?
Every child has the right to be safe at school, schools and educational establishments, and their staff, have a duty of care for each child. This means they have a duty need to look after every child’s safety and wellbeing.
The MVP Programme is a peer mentoring, leadership and bystander programme that gives young people the chance to explore and challenge the attitudes, beliefs and cultural norms that underpin all forms of gender-based violence in our society. It was developed in the United States by US Educator Dr Jackson Katz. It was brought over to the UK and championed by Graham Goulden, of Cultivating Minds.
MVP offers excellent opportunities to discuss a range of current social issues within an educational framework where positive relationships, Health and Wellbeing are key.
Violence is a complex issue and one which is very often not fully understood by the many who are responsible for tackling it. We often try to deal with the violence that we see and do not tackle the culture, the beliefs and the attitudes which may result in the physical act itself.
The introduction of bystander training within an educational setting will start to tackle the culture, the beliefs and the attitudes that say violence is acceptable. The approach also allows for discussions on bullying, harassment, sexual violence, weapons carrying, child sexual exploitation and different forms of hate crime, as well as the influence of the modern media in shaping our society.
The programme provides schools with an excellent educational tool to discuss the challenges that young people face, often because of the impact of media and social media culture.
The MVP model not only helps to equip students with the confidence, skills and strategies to become empowered bystanders with the ability to support friends and peers, but is also to challenge intrusive, unwelcomed or unhelpful behaviour.
Watch a short introductory video about the MVP Programme here.
You can also submit an enquiry form here.