London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched an innovative £1 million toolkit aimed at educating primary school pupils about healthy and respectful relationships. This toolkit, now available online, is

part of a broader strategy to counter the harmful influence of misogynistic content on social media, which is increasingly being consumed by young people.

The initiative includes online training courses for teachers, equipping them to lead workshops and classes across all primary schools in the capital. The move comes in response to research showing that one in three young males hold positive views of controversial influencer Andrew Tate, and that one in ten children have watched pornography by the age of nine.

The Mayor stressed the urgent need to address these issues, stating: "There has never been a more important time to counter the pernicious influence of those who preach misogyny online. Young people must learn about respectful relationships before they are exposed to harmful content from figures like Andrew Tate."

The toolkit, developed in collaboration with Tender, an organization specializing in relationship education, targets children aged 9 to 11. Using interactive workshops, drama, and classroom sessions, it empowers young people to recognize and challenge inequality and sexism within their peer groups. Tender has long been a leader in promoting healthy relationships, and the Mayor’s funding has allowed them to create this tailored toolkit specifically for primary schools.

The toolkit launch builds on the success of previous work by the Mayor's Violence Reduction Unit, which has employed a public health approach to addressing violence. This unit has already delivered workshops to over 15,000 young people, helping them identify harmful behaviors and foster healthier relationships. Research shows that 90% of pupils involved in these programs now have a better understanding of what constitutes a healthy relationship, and 80% are able to spot warning signs in friendships and relationships.

This initiative is part of the Mayor's wider strategy to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG), focusing on prevention through education and early intervention. It follows the success of campaigns like #HaveAWord, which promotes allyship and empowers young people to take a stand against violence.

Sadiq Khan has also emphasized that education on equality and kindness should start at a young age, helping children build resilience against toxic attitudes and influences, particularly those proliferating on social media. This new toolkit is a significant part of the Mayor's record £233 million investment in tackling the root causes of VAWG, with a focus on prevention, education, and supporting specialist services for victims.

The launch of the toolkit follows a successful pilot and signals a strong commitment from the Mayor to promote respectful relationships in London's schools, ensuring the next generation grows up with a better understanding of equality, respect, and the importance of challenging harmful behaviors. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It’s never too early to start educating young Londoners about the need to treat one another fairly and kindly. And it’s important for young boys and girls to learn about equality and respect for one another.

“That’s why I have written to all primary school headteachers in the capital today to outline the support, resources and funding I’m investing from City Hall so this important training can be delivered to thousands of young Londoners. It will give teachers the expert training they need to empower the next generation of Londoners to stand up to sexism and misogyny in all its forms.

“There has never been a more important time to counter the pernicious influence of those who preach misogyny online. we must ensure that young people are clear what healthy and respectful relationships are about before they start seeing content from individuals like Andrew Tate online.

“I will continue to do everything within my power to ensure that ending violence against women and girls is treated with the utmost urgency both by our police, and society as a whole to build a safer London for all.”

Broadcaster and DJ Ashley James said: “As a mum-of-two, I’m really pleased that the Mayor of London is introducing education in primary schools to help tackle the root causes of violence against women and girls. Nobody is born a misogynist but social media and other influences can embed harmful ideas unless children have already built a strong foundation of equality and respect.” Photo by Chabad Lubavitch, Wikimedia commons.