A community committed to sexual violence prevention
Lauren Royall
President of Students Against Sexual Harassment and Assault (SASHA), University of Leeds
Knowing that I might make a small difference in the support or education of one person - that’s what keeps me motivated.
Students Against Sexual Harassment and Assault (SASHA) is an award-winning student group at the University of Leeds dedicated to dismantling the culture of sexual violence in our community.
The group provides a safe, inclusive space for students to be seen, heard and believed among peers. As well as hosting talks, workshops, wellbeing socials and activities, the group also helps victims and survivors of sexual violence find the right support and resources they may need.
As the 2024/25 president for SASHA, Lauren Royall is a student committed to sexual violence prevention and inspiring positive change in our student community.
I’ve learned it’s so important to speak to young people about sexual violence so that younger generations have a greater understanding around consent and can form safer communities in the future.
Lauren has been an active member of SASHA since her first year of university, but her journey with the student group and her work in sexual violence prevention began long before then. She first worked with SASHA prior to university as an artist for a fundraising exhibition for SARSVL (Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds).
Lauren is passionate about using creative means to raise awareness about sexual violence and always strives to incorporate creativity in the work SASHA does. Alongside her studies and commitment to SASHA, Lauren also works for Talk Consent, an organisation that facilitates workshops around consent and sexual violence prevention in schools, sixth forms and colleges nationwide.
Lauren stands in front of her artwork 'Everyone is dancing and my head is spinning', created for the 'Tender Flames' exhibition, organised by SASHA and raising money for the charity Young Abuse Support.
Lauren stands in front of her artwork 'Everyone is dancing and my head is spinning', created for the 'Tender Flames' exhibition, organised by SASHA and raising money for the charity Young Abuse Support.
Lauren’s current focus with SASHA is working to set up consent training for clubs and societies at the University, to help educate students and empower them to foster a culture of consent and respect in our community.
Alongside systems to support victims and survivors, we must also take extra steps to educate for active prevention at the source.
Motivated by her own experiences of sexual violence and those of many of her peers, Lauren sees this work, as well as all that SASHA does, as crucial. Whilst acknowledging that work in sexual violence prevention is difficult and can sometimes feel like there isn’t much reward, Lauren recognises the significance of making a difference for even one person. This, she believes, makes it more than worth it.
Everyone can be an active bystander or an ally and actively engage in dismantling the culture of sexual violence in our society.
Showing up against sexual violence can be as little as educating ourselves on consent; reflecting on the ways the think, talk and act; having conversations with friends and family; and owning and learning from our mistakes and problematic behaviours.
Learn more about sexual violence so you can recognise it when you see it and take action.
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