Hi everyone, 

Another huge thank you for all the new signatures. I really am pinching myself that we are nearly at 2,500!! I truly never believed I would get past 500 so this feels like a huge achievement in itself despite being so far off our goal still. 

BUT I have some very exciting news that I can finally share. After working with the BBC for the past few months, on Wednesday 1st October this petition and story will be going live on BBC News West Midlands! 

The online article and radio broadcast will be live from 6am, and it will also be televised on the evening news at 6:30pm on BBC West Midlands. This feels like a huge step forward and will hopefully attract a lot more people to the petition and raise awareness of this huge failing in the law. 

On top of this, the NSPCC have been in touch with me saying they want to back this change and support with the campaign for change. They have kindly added to the news broadcast and have also invited me to be part of their advocacy team(!!). 
The NSPCC are the organisation who pushed the 'Close the Loophole' campaign which introduced the law of including Sport and Religious teaching under the definition of a position of power. After being introduced to this case they have seen where further loopholes have been made and have agreed to jump onboard. 

Having backing from such a huge organisation gives this the grounding it needs. Nearly 2,500 of you agree that this is a change that needs to be made, and I can only imagine what impact the support from the NSPCC will have on the signatures! 

The Ministry of Justice have also contacted me, and stated: 
"My officials will consider any new evidence and examples that name and others may provide on additional roles in which there may be a similar degree of trust, authority and power, and the potential for adults to use their position and influence to manipulate vulnerable 16-and 17-year old young people into engaging in consensual sexual activity. Where there is evidence that supports this change in the law, I can assure you that we will act. I can assure both you and *name* that this will be given full consideration."

This is another huge step forward. The Ministry of Justice are aware, and it can only go up from here! 

I have also had to change my name on here to anonymous to help protect the identity of the victim which hopefully you can all understand. 

Make sure to tune in on Wednesday, keep sharing!! 

Best wishes, 

Anonymous x