Who we are
We’re Anna and Matilda, co-founders of Split Banana. We think we’ve had a pretty standard experience when it comes to relationships and sex.
Over the past 20 years, we’ve been pressured into sexting (age 13), had an unintended pregnancy (age 15), been publicly shamed for having pubic hair (age 15), lived with friends in abusive relationships (age 18), supported partners with mental health illnesses (18) and dated a man with multiple sexual assault accusations (age 20). Not to mention unwanted touching (age 14), catcalling (age 11) and body shaming (age 6).
And as white, cis-gender, non-disabled women, we know that this is incomparable to many others’ (much worse) lived experiences.
Unsurprisingly, guidance around sex and relationships was pretty much non-existent for us and our peers at school. 10 years later, whilst both working in inner-city London schools, we were shocked to see that this had barely changed.
We believe that young people deserve better.
We want to see educators facilitate open conversations with students in a safe and constructive way.
We want to see sex education that reflects the lived realities and identities of students from all walks of life.
We want to totally reshape Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) and ensure that students are learning more than how to put a condom on a banana.
Anna Alexander (she/her)
Learning and Engagement Director
Matilda Lawrence-Jubb (she/her)
Development Director
Tasha Mansley (she/her)
Education and Programmes Manager
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Anna has been working in education for nearly 10 years: from coaching young Londoners experiencing homelessness at Fat Macy’s, to her role as Head of PSHRE at an East London School. No matter what the role, Anna’s favourite part is always having conversations with young people about how they see the world and what they want from their education. In 2020, Anna won the prestigious Shackleton Leadership Award for her work with Split Banana. In her spare time, Anna loves walking her dog, Jeff, drawing and faffing around outside.
Qualifications / courses:
Trauma Informed Practice: A Course for Frontline Workers (CPD Accredited)
Fully Qualified Teacher
Safeguarding Training
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Matilda has a background in programme production and creative events management. She loves organising fun. Matilda previously worked: teaching English to refugees and migrants in Athens, as a Programme Producer for Year Here, and as a Service Designer for Snook. She thrives in projects that champion young people’s voices and ideas. Now, she works at SB full-time and applies her design-thinking skills and love for building partnerships. Matilda enjoys singing in her local choir, hanging out with her many small siblings and reading about pleasure activism.
Qualifications / courses:
Trauma Informed Practice: A Course for Frontline Workers (CPD Accredited)
Mental Health First Aid Training
DO Lectures Events Training
RSE for SEND Learners
Safeguarding Training
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Tasha has been facilitating workshops and training in youth groups, universities and schools, since 2016! She is passionate about creative critical pedagogies, empowering young people through reflection, dialogue and action. She has an MA (Distinction) from UCL’s Institute of Education, where she specialised in the areas of Gender & Sexuality and Feminist Approaches. Alongside her role at Split Banana, she leads bespoke courses using theatre, embodiment and art at ‘Full Circle Facilitation’. Tasha is happiest when she is dancing, on a big hike, wild swimming or having deep chats with friends.
Qualifications / courses:
Kazzum’s Trauma Informed Creative Practice
Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent
Sex Education Forum’s ‘Outside the Box’ Programme: RSE with Vulnerable Young People
Preventing and Disrupting Sexual Exploitation and Responding to Harmful Sexual Behaviours
Teaching Positive Sexual Health
RSE for SEND Learners
LGBTQ+ Mental Health Hardship Awareness