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 15 years we’ve been pressured into sexting (age 13+), had an unintended pregnancy (age 15), been shamed for having pubic hair (age 15+), lived with friends in abusive relationships (age 18), supported partners with mental health illnesses (18), finally realised there was an alternative to heteronormative porn-style sex (age 18) and dated a man with multiple sexual assault accusations (age 20). Not to mention the unwanted touching (aged 14+), catcalling (13+) 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 facilitating open conversations with students, in a safe and constructive way. We want to see a sex-ed that reflects the lived realities and identities of students, from all walks of life. We want to reshape RSHE, and make sure that students are learning more than how to put a condom on a banana. 

Tasha Mansley
(she/her)

Tasha is a workshop facilitator and trainer, passionate about empowering people to grow loving, authentic and supportive connections, with themselves, others, and nature. Her approach to education encourages critical thinking, creativity, community building, and puts joy at the centre.

Alongside her role, she is currently developing her own business ‘Full Circle Facilitation’ and studying for a Masters in the areas of Gender & Sexuality and Feminist Pedagogies at UCL’s Institute of Education.

Tasha is a lover of salsa dancing, bike-packing around summer festivals, wild swimming, and deep chats with her friends.

Qualifications / courses:

‘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

Our Facilitators

Neelam (she/her)

A Tedx Speaker who founded Cysters: a charity dedicated to reproductive wellbeing, after facing her own battles around diagnosis and care and wanting to address the health inequalities faced by those from communities of colour and the LGBT community. Most recently, the organisation have changed their name to become inclusive of trans communities by removing the word woman. Neelam’s work has been recognised by Pride of Britain and Point of Light award from the Prime Minister.

Tessa (they/them)

Facilitator and co-founder of Remember & Resist, a collective of queer East and Southeast Asian organisers exploring and practicing migrant solidarity, community organising and abolition. They are also a teaching assistant in a primary school, where they value the honest conversations they get to have with young people about consent, boundaries and friendship. Outside of all that, Tessa's interests include karaoke, hillwalking and transformative justice.

Ammaarah (she/her)

An educator with a background in gender-based violence and working with young people. The majority of her work has been with Black and minoritised survivors of violence. She is also a freelance writer and speaker, with a particular focus on the experiences of marginalised communities. In her free time, Ammaarah can always be found with a flat white in hand and nose deep in a good book.

Teddy (they/them)

Teddy found a love of RSE after being part of a youth participation programme with the YMCA where they created and delivered workshops with young people for young people. Teddy is studying a masters in Social and Cultural Psychology at the LSE and is part of Girls Against, a campaign fighting against sexual harassment and misogyny in the live music scene. In their spare time Teddy loves bopping their head to live music, or skipping around outside.

Maz (they/she)

Previously an RSE and Drama teacher at an SEN school, Maz is now a facilitator and educator, often using the creative arts to explore social and climate justice issues in their workshops. Maz uses a trauma-informed approach in their practice and is passionate about making RSE accessible to everyone. In their free time Maz enjoys being part of community organising groups, learning more about identifying plants and foraging, and performing as a drag king.

Sophia (she/they)

Sophia is an educator and facilitator based in London holding space for exploration and learning around consent, sexuality, and relationships. Bringing a creative, warm, and trauma-informed approach is important to Sophia, to offer support as we delve into complex topics with bravery and curiosity. 

Our Values

We build empathy

Everyone lives a different life which should be equally respected.

We’re bold

We’re not afraid to use our voice.

We amplify

Sex-ed shouldn’t come from one person’s head. But it still does. And that person is predominantly white, middle class and liberal, just like us. We want to make space, listen, act and collaborate so that everyone has access to a sex-ed that reflects themselves and their experiences. 

We keep step

In an ever-evolving world, we listen to what young people need and want. 

We’re all about real talk

We don’t sugar coat or patronise, we tell it how it is. 

We’re creative

We want to bring play and lightness to young peoples’ days.

We approach everything with kindness

We believe it’s important and powerful. 

We’re in it for the long game

Change takes time, and we’re not going anywhere.