Powerful Sunderland university student films raise awareness of male sexual abuse

Talk to Me was part of a series of short films created by students at the University of Sunderland in collaboration with Northumbria Police and SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre).

They want to raise awareness and support males who find themselves the victims of a sexual crime, which remains undisclosed in many cases.

This is the sixth year that Sunderland students have been supported by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria Vera Baird, to collaborate with Northumbria Police in raising awareness about an issue impacting on society. Other successful projects addressed issues such as modern-day slavery, the capacity to consent, sexual exploitation, domestic violence and cyber-crime.

The winning team, whose production focused on a male rape in a heterosexual setting, was unveiled at a screening of all the entries at the David Puttnam Media Centre, Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s. The evening was attended by Dame Vera Baird, Northumbria Police Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Bacon and the University’s Vice Chancellor Sir David Bell, alongside an audience of specially invited guests.

Dame Vera said: "All these films are profoundly moving. They get across the victims’ sense of trauma, isolation and inability to talk – and how their experience has affected their behaviour, relationships and how they feel about themselves.

"Women are, in the main, the focus of rape– because they are most often the victim of rape. But that is part of the issue– rape is seen as something that only happens to women and it’s already hard for men to talk to other men.

"The films are impactful and you can see the research the students have done. It can’t have been easy to do, to understand the issue and be able to show its ramifications.

"The University has consistently responded to our briefs by producing fantastic films on difficult issues. The University has not shirked from these issues. What you have done for the Police is transmit messages in a way that we cannot. These films will be used by Northumbria Police to share these messages far and wide."

Vice Chancellor David Bell added: “The students researched, scripted, devised, shot and edited all of the work.

"We were proud to showcase their sensitive and creative responses to Northumbria’s Police’s brief, which was to raise awareness of the reality and stigma of male rape.

“For our students, having the opportunity to work on a live client brief, and on a project with the real potential to impact upon the community is, of course, excellent experience. But more important than that, it achieves what is at our University’s core– a commitment to make a positive impact on society.”

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said: "No male victim of rape should ever suffer in silence but sadly many do.

"We have found that all-too often victims, for a number of reasons, don’t feel able to come forward and this absolutely needs to change. These videos certainly shine a much-needed spotlight on this and will be an asset in raising awareness of male rape and encouraging victims to come forward.

"We do a lot of work with our partners including MESMAC and Changing Lives, who help support rape victims, and together we can use these videos to help build confidence and trust and encourage men to speak out about rape and report it to police."

James Vardy, 23, from Penshaw, the director of winner Talk to Me, said: “Since my first year at the University of Sunderland, film for me has to have a meaning.”