FOR many teenagers, it could have been an experience which put them off ever going to gigs again.

But Budmouth College pupil Julia Drewnowicz turned it into something empowering - and now she is speaking out in a bid to help others.

Julia, 16, who lives with her family in Chickerell, was at a concert in December when a man in the crowd stuck his hand up her skirt.

“I got lost a bit from my friends,” she said.

“This big beefy man came up behind me and slipped his hand up my skirt. I just froze. I was really scared I had no clue what to do or to tell the security.

“It wasn’t fun,” she said. “It was a fast-paced song and quite a rough crowd. I didn’t know what to do. I felt very much by myself.”

Julia had already heard of campaign group Girls Against, a group of young women and men who are fighting to end groping and sexual harassment and attacks at gigs.

It was through learning more about the group online that Julia began the ‘long process’ of understanding that what happened was not her fault.

Julia said: “It’s important to remember everyone has a different reaction. I did blame myself. I thought, maybe I should have worn trousers. But they taught me that there was nothing I could have done. Wearing a skirt just made me a little bit more of an easier target. But it’s never the victim’s fault. It’s the perpetrators.”

She said: “It does happen all the time, and because it’s a big crowd people think they can get away with it.”

As the campaign group gathers momentum - it has featured in music magazine NME and has the backing of several bands - they have appointed local ambassadors to further their cause.

Along with 80 other representatives around the world, Julia is given assignments each week such as contacting a local club, music store, venues and festivals to discuss security arrangements and putting up posters to raise awareness.

Julia said: “Normally I hate crowds, I’m a big introvert, but there’s something about being in a room with loads of people who love the same thing.”

She said she is trying to get venues like the BIC and O2 Academy in Bournemouth to work with Girls Against to help raise awareness of sexual attacks at gigs and shows.

The committed group want to address the ‘lack of education and discussion’.

Julia said: “I like that Girls Against is so focused on one part. It helps target the problem specifically.

“There are posters everywhere and it’s really good to see that young people can make such a difference.

“Letting the artists know that this is happening at their shows brings light to the subject.”

She said she’s had a ‘really positive’ response so far from the Dorset community.

“I’ve contacted a couple of local festivals to ask if I can go and hand out leaflets and they have been really helpful.”

Julia wasn’t aware until she researched Girls Against that the group founder had suffered a similar experience.

“It was really inspiring, that she was able to create a good situation out of something bad.”

Julia has drawn from that inspiration and said joining the campaign group has helped her.

She said: “It’s definitely boosted my confidence.

“We should take any negative thing and turn it into a positive.

“I feel a lot better and feel like I’m now giving something to other people who are in a similar situation.”

Although the campaign group is called Girls Against, Julia said it doesn’t mean it’s just girls campaigning for the cause. The group have male representatives too working for the non-profit group to help combat the issue.

Julia said: “The group makes a big deal about being intersectional feminist - that is they represent all women, whatever their race or wherever they are from.”

Julia is aware the word ‘feminist’ can sometimes be seen as negative by some - and insists there is work yet to be done to achieve gender equality.

“Especially in the western world, I think people think we don’t need feminism any more.”

Julia said her aim is to help stop incidents like what she experienced happening at gigs altogether.

She added: “And to amplify peoples’ voices and let people know we are here to support them and do everything we can to combat the issue.”

Does she have any advice for people faced, as she was, with sexual assault?

“Just be aware it might happen. I just was not prepared at all. Don’t be afraid to tell someone. I thought people would laugh at me but you should tell security. That’s part of their job.

“It’s not your fault and definitely tell someone you trust and don’t feel ashamed. I felt really embarrassed, but you will get over it.

“And just be respectful of the people around you.”

Visit @GirlsAgainst on Twitter or search for the group on Facebook.