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exploring sessions

These new discussion-based sessions gives young people a safe space to explore topics with our Education and Wellbeing Specialists expertly guiding the conversation.

Conversations shaped by young people

Brook’s new Exploring sessions are flexible, responsive workshops shaped by what young people bring to the conversation. Grounded in dialogic pedagogy, the Exploring approach prioritises dialogue over pre-determined delivery outcomes. Rather than following a fixed set of learning objectives, sessions evolve through discussion, with Brook’s Education and Wellbeing Specialists facilitating as conversations unfold and creating a safe, respectful environment for honest dialogue and meaningful reflection.

Co-produced with 16–19-year-olds, Exploring workshops have been designed in direct response to what young people told us about how they want to engage with topics such as misogyny and pornography. These can be challenging subjects to discuss, yet they are part of many young people’s lived experiences. Through a discussion-based approach, participants are supported to share perspectives, explore experiences, and focus on the aspects of these topics that feel most relevant to them.

Current sessions

EDUCATION SESSION

Exploring Gender Pressures & Misogyny

This discussion-based workshop supports young people to safely explore how gender influences their everyday life, relationships, and identity, while challenging stereotypes and promoting empathy and understanding. It creates a safe, inclusive space for open discussion, encouraging learners to reflect on the messages they receive from family, school, media, and online culture. 

By validating lived experiences and promoting respectful listening, the workshop helps learners build empathy, recognise harmful stereotypes, and feel empowered to challenge unfair treatment in their school and community. It also supports pupils to give feedback and identify areas for further learning.

  • Understand how gender roles and expectations are shaped by relationships, culture, and the media from an early age.
  • Recognise that experiences of gender are personal, and everyone deserves to feel seen, respected, and understood.
  • Identify unfair treatment based on gender and feel confident to speak up and challenge it.
  • Listen to and learn from the lived experiences of others, with curiosity and respect.
  • Identify sources of support, advice, and reliable information about sex, relationships, and wellbeing. 

Contact the team to book

EDUCATION SESSION

Exploring Pornography, Perceptions, and Healthy Sexual Expression

Delivered by Brook experts, this discussion-based education session for Year 12-13 was designed with our 16-19 Participation Advisory Group, ensuring it meets the needs of the age group. The session supports young people to critically explore the influence of pornography on sex, relationships and society, and to recognise healthy sexual behaviour as consensual, safe and mutually enjoyable.

This lesson provides a safe, supportive environment for young people to critically examine how pornography can shape their expectations and beliefs about sex, bodies, consent, and pleasure. It encourages thoughtful reflection on the differences between healthy, consensual sexual behaviour and harmful or aggressive acts. Importantly, it promotes understanding of consent, safety, communication, and mutual enjoyment as foundational elements of positive sexual experiences. 

  • Recognise how pornography can influence expectations and beliefs about sex, relationships, consent, bodies, and pleasure.
  • Differentiate between what constitutes healthy, consensual sexual behaviour and harmful or aggressive sexual behaviour 
  • Recognise the importance of consent, safety, communication, and mutual enjoyment in healthy sexual experiences.
  • Reflect on how pornography might impact individual’s wellbeing and relationships
  • Identify sources of support, advice, and reliable information about sex, relationships, and wellbeing.

Contact the team to book

Learn more about how we created these sessions

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