SHAG APP
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SHAG is creating a sexual wellness app for university students to access support and wellness information.
Founded in 2017 by Ellie Softley, Sexual Health And Growth (SHAG) has existed as a creative platform for young adults (18-25) to explore, engage and educate one another in sexual health, sexual wellbeing and sexual politics.
Over the past 5 years, we have been steadily contributing to a positive shift in the way that young people - the future leaders - speak about relationships, consent, gender, bodies, identity, health and all things sex-related.
At SHAG, our methodology in reaching young adults as effectively as possible has been reconciling anecdotes with theory, fact and history. Our platform is very deliberately open to anyone and everyone. We do not aim to berate people into attaining a lofty academic knowledge of sexual health and growth; we meet people where they are and facilitate their personal journey.
The content we publish continues to be nuanced, modern and multi-faceted, reflecting a generation that demands more from the UK sexual education system than the biological bare minimum. We are committed to tackling rape culture, misogyny and bigotry in all its forms.
An epidemic of rape culture and sexual assault has existed and thrived within the university context with little to no accountability or support. A lack of educational resources and accessible services surrounding gendered violence and sexual health have meant that many students have suffered in silence.
An epidemic of rape culture and sexual assault has existed and thrived within the university context with little to no accountability or support. A lack of educational resources and accessible services surrounding gendered violence and sexual health have meant that many students have suffered in silence.
We want to further our contribution to the wellbeing of young adults and create a project that will aid university students in navigating the world of sexual and mental wellbeing during their time of studies. We are looking to revolutionise the way students are able to track their health, understand their bodies and communication, report and recognise assault and access support. This app aims to bridge the gap between the support services and student. Focused on privacy, reliability and education, our app will create a safe space for a student wherever they are, providing knowledge, comfort and essential assistance.
This money will go towards hiring a app developer to create our SHAG app so that we can take this project through to the next round of investment. All money will go towards the developer.
This money will go towards hiring a app developer to create our SHAG app so that we can take this project through to the next round of investment. All money will go towards the developer.
We need your help for the development of this project.
Who is behind the project?
Ellie Softley:
I founded Sexual Health and Growth in 2017 with the intention of changing the culture around sexual politics and sexual assault. I have spent the last 4 years learning about the place sexual assault and misconduct has in the workplace specifically within the creative context. As a creative platform that aims to bring together artists from all walks of life, it became apparent to me that lines were being crossed, boundaries were not being put in place and people were being taken advantage of or discriminated against in their respective workplaces around colleagues that were meant to make them feel safe and supported. I have spent these years facilitating and developing workshops to create a space in which people feel safe to share these experiences, talk about the impact it has had on their professional careers and strive to find a way to create a safer, more accepting and inclusive workspace.
As a founding member of the global movement ‘Everyone’s Invited’ which is dedicated to exposing and eradicating rape culture and has amassed over 50,000 testimonial responses and Ofsted reports into sexual harassment in schools, I have spent my time understanding the environments at which this exploitation takes place. My work at Everyone’s Invited is centred around offering support to the team and survivors of assault. As support lead, I deliver workshops on self-care, vicarious trauma and healthy lifestyles for the team. I also run a support group for sexual assault and abuse survivors weekly and facilitate multiple art workshops, yoga groups and wellbeing exercises. I have a certificate in Safeguarding 16-25 year olds from the NSPCC and Trauma informed training from the Survivors Trust.
Sabelo Moyo:
“As a partner at Sexual Health And Guidance, my responsibilities as managing editor and head of compliance have created ample opportunity for me to refine an effective methodology for engaging with audiences on an educational and emotional basis. My expertise is primarily that of ethics, communication and thought leadership.
I have been able to develop personal as well as organisation-wide policies, models and channels of communication, largely in order to discuss issues surrounding identity in a secure, supported and orderly manner.
Having previously worked as an international marketing executive at Minesoft UK and as a columnist for MindMapper UK, I have experienced and navigated, firsthand, the challenges and rewards that come of delivering information regarding identity politics and mental wellbeing/ illness within the professional context.
My undergraduate studies in Philosophy & Ethics (including gender and philosophy, philosophy of race, philosophy of biology and jurisprudence & legal theory) as well as my postgraduate studies in Medical Ethics and Law have created a comprehensive and pertinent underpinning for my continued work in compliance, marketing and sexual safeguarding.”
Who is behind the project?
Ellie Softley:
I founded Sexual Health and Growth in 2017 with the intention of changing the culture around sexual politics and sexual assault. I have spent the last 4 years learning about the place sexual assault and misconduct has in the workplace specifically within the creative context. As a creative platform that aims to bring together artists from all walks of life, it became apparent to me that lines were being crossed, boundaries were not being put in place and people were being taken advantage of or discriminated against in their respective workplaces around colleagues that were meant to make them feel safe and supported. I have spent these years facilitating and developing workshops to create a space in which people feel safe to share these experiences, talk about the impact it has had on their professional careers and strive to find a way to create a safer, more accepting and inclusive workspace.
As a founding member of the global movement ‘Everyone’s Invited’ which is dedicated to exposing and eradicating rape culture and has amassed over 50,000 testimonial responses and Ofsted reports into sexual harassment in schools, I have spent my time understanding the environments at which this exploitation takes place. My work at Everyone’s Invited is centred around offering support to the team and survivors of assault. As support lead, I deliver workshops on self-care, vicarious trauma and healthy lifestyles for the team. I also run a support group for sexual assault and abuse survivors weekly and facilitate multiple art workshops, yoga groups and wellbeing exercises. I have a certificate in Safeguarding 16-25 year olds from the NSPCC and Trauma informed training from the Survivors Trust.
Sabelo Moyo:
“As a partner at Sexual Health And Guidance, my responsibilities as managing editor and head of compliance have created ample opportunity for me to refine an effective methodology for engaging with audiences on an educational and emotional basis. My expertise is primarily that of ethics, communication and thought leadership.
I have been able to develop personal as well as organisation-wide policies, models and channels of communication, largely in order to discuss issues surrounding identity in a secure, supported and orderly manner.
Having previously worked as an international marketing executive at Minesoft UK and as a columnist for MindMapper UK, I have experienced and navigated, firsthand, the challenges and rewards that come of delivering information regarding identity politics and mental wellbeing/ illness within the professional context.
My undergraduate studies in Philosophy & Ethics (including gender and philosophy, philosophy of race, philosophy of biology and jurisprudence & legal theory) as well as my postgraduate studies in Medical Ethics and Law have created a comprehensive and pertinent underpinning for my continued work in compliance, marketing and sexual safeguarding.”
Co-organizers (2)
Ellie Softley
Organizer
England
Lulu Goad
Co-organizer