On Thursday 7th November, 70 Sociology and Health & Social Care students from Reigate College attended a 1.5 hour session at The Harlequin Theatre in Redhill entitled ‘The Best We Can Be’.

This event, about coercive control and the nature of male violence towards women and children, was organised by Reigate and Banstead council, and aimed specifically at 16-18 year olds from local schools and colleges.

Mel Pearl, the College’s Director of Safeguarding and Interventions commented, ‘Luke and Ryan Hart (cocoawareness.co.uk) spoke movingly about their own experiences involving their father’s coercive control and its tragic consequences. We took a view that both Sociology and Health & Social Care students could benefit greatly from this talk.’

The purpose of the event was summed up in the council’s promotional material, ‘We need to help young people to be equipped to understand different types of abuse, and to know where to turn to for help. This event contributes to crucial preventative work happening in the borough to raise awareness and increase understanding at this vital age…’