Joe Cole, 41, and Gareth Rogers, 43, are two Birmingham men committed to transforming the conversation around violence against women and girls. As directors and practitioners of The Right Path, they visit schools across the country to deliver their Unspoken Truth workshops, tackling critical issues such as healthy relationships, gangs, knife crime, drugs, and harmful sexual behaviour.
Ahead of their presentation at the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls event hosted by Birmingham City Council on March 17, Gareth highlighted the challenging work they undertake. He explained, “We work directly with young people who face risks like criminalisation, harmful sexual behaviour, and social and emotional mental health challenges that can hinder their development.”
The Right Path’s educational programme is designed to raise awareness among both boys and girls about misogyny—what it looks like, how it manifests in society, and its damaging consequences. “We explore historical stereotypes, societal attitudes, the influence of social media, and delve into the darker realities of assault and sexual violence, backed by current data and statistics,” Gareth added.
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When asked about the impact of their work on young people nationwide, Joe was candid, noting that while it’s hard to measure, he finds the effect “hugely impactful” in terms of raising awareness. Joe emphasized the importance of leadership within schools in sustaining this change. “Our goal is to encourage schools to integrate this education into their culture, ensuring ongoing conversations that empower students.”
Joe also pointed out that many teachers feel unprepared to discuss these sensitive topics, a barrier that The Right Path actively works to overcome. “Helping educators become comfortable with these discussions is as vital as educating students,” he said.
Young people welcome these conversations, showing a strong appetite to engage on issues related to violence against women and girls. Joe elaborated, “They’re already exposed to various messages elsewhere, but our approach offers a fresh perspective that challenges harmful beliefs and creates meaningful awareness.”
Reflecting on their dedication, Gareth shared a poignant insight from their team: “We often ask ourselves, ‘What would be the impact if we weren’t doing this work?’ Even making a difference to a small percentage of young people is better than no impact at all.”