THT Offers Young People In London Grants To Talk To Their Peers About Sex

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 07 May 2009 - 7:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is offering grants of up to £1,000 to young people in London who come up with innovative ideas to educate their friends about sex and relationships. The deadline for applications is 26th June.

As part of its award-winning peer led sex and relationship education (SRE) project Young Leaders, THT is inviting groups of young people aged 13-19 to think of ways to build up their own and other young people's knowledge around issues like safer sex, relationships and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). By giving out grants for young people to create and deliver their own SRE projects locally, THT aims to give them the opportunity to make a positive impact in their community.

Camilla Smith, Young Leaders Participation Officer in London, said: "We're now going in to our third year of the initiative, which has already seen so many creative projects brought to life. So far, the groups we've funded locally have reached over 10,000 young people with important information on sex and relationships, but we're sure there are more ideas out there. If you're aged 13-19, and have an idea how you can get your friends talking about sex, we'd love to hear about it."

Previous projects funded through Young Leaders in London include the Safer Sex Awareness Hour, a radio show broadcast through Pyro Radio for young people. Advice is given around sexual health, contraception, pregnancy and relationships in between songs. The songs selected are related to sex and relationships and Roll Deep Crew have been interviewed to give their opinions on recent statistics surrounding sexual health.

Ashley Mackenzie (19), participant in the Safer Sex Awareness Hour, said: "I think it's good to give grants to young people because sexual health issues aren't expressed to young people in a way they can relate to. The opportunity I was given has helped my close friends and other young people learn about sexual health. The project is something I never imagined I would achieve and has given me incredible experiences."

For more information on Young Leaders and to download an application pack and guidance notes visit: http://www.tht.org.uk/youknowyou.

Notes

1. Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services across England, Wales and Scotland. The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual health.

2. Terrence Higgins Trust was awarded £1,485,621 by the Big Lottery Fund to establish 'Young Leaders', a sex and relationships education (SRE) project for young people across England. The three year project launched in April and is directed entirely by the young people involved.

3. Big Lottery Fund is the joint operating name of the New Opportunities Fund and the National Lottery Charities Board (which made grants under the name of the Community Fund). Big Lottery Fund, launched on 1 June 2004, is distributing half of all National Lottery good cause funding across the UK.

4. In March 2009, the Young Leaders project was awarded 'UK Sexual Health Project of the Year' at the annual Brook Awards Dinner.

Source
Terrence Higgins Trust

• Additional
• References
• Citations