Ace love

Research

In our primary research conducted at Truro college, we used focus groups, general environmental observations and self-report questionnaires.

Our findings showed that the students do understand what behaviours are healthy and unhealthy on paper, but when it comes to how they actually behave when they are in relationships, this can be quite different. When discussing specific situations, they often believe that it depends on the situational context whether or not a behaviour is acceptable, and this is what has driven us to encourage deeper conversations among the students. They were in resounding agreement that it’s easier to talk to each other than to a teacher, parent, or professional. Leading us to our key insight…

Key insight They would much rather talk to their friends than an adult, but due to the highly social nature of the college environment, they aren’t really doing a lot of it. Many of our participants answered the same questions very differently, privately, on the paper questionnaires compared to the answers they gave out loud in front of their peers, and this is the key behaviour we aim to change.

ACE LOVE

We aim to encourage more open and honest conversations amongst teenagers in their own friend groups, and in doing so, reduce social stigma in their environment and peer groups.

We also aim to help students in recognising unhealthy behaviours, in themselves and others, by providing easily accessible and clearly stated information resources that will contribute to making their conversations more constructive and educational. Information is more readily absorbed when presented to people as naturally as possible, as opposed to information delivered in more abrupt ways like educational seminars. Whilst these are important, especially when it comes to teenagers, our research shows that their minds are much more open when in a more relaxed and informal environment, like with their friends outside of classrooms.

Promotion

We will put out a sponsored instagram post from the Truro College instagram account, reaching out to all 16-18 year olds in the truro area, advertising the website to increase engagement.

Website

The site will include quizzes, affirmations, a ‘let’s talk’ section, and an important resources section.

The quizzes will yield result cards that will visually and topically connect with the question cards on tables. These will also function as social currency, something desirable that the students can collect after doing various different quizzes and share online, as well as amongst themselves, to spark more conversations.

The ‘let’s talk’ section will present important information about topics like consent, safe sex, controlling behaviours, domestic abuse, and manipulation/gaslighting etc. in a conversational and familiar way, easily sorted into topics for them to access as needed. This won’t be an overwhelming wall of information, but more of an information pool they can dip into as and when they feel the need or have any questions.

Instead of calling out undesirable behaviour, we will simply state it as fact, instead emphasising the encouragement of desirable behaviours. This has proven to be more effective.

Cards

The use of relatable and familiar language will communicate the important information in a more comfortable way for the students.

Quiz result cards on the website will function as social currency, encouraging students to discuss their results and the various topics. Stickers and cards placed in communal areas will act as behavioural nudges, passively engaging the students in the campaign and integrating Ace Love in their environment and minds.