Westminster Health Forum Keynote Seminar:
Sexual Health & Young People

Wednesday, 2nd April 2008
9am to 1pm

Sixty One Whitehall,
London,
SW1A 2ET

The role and effectiveness of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE)
as part of a wider Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) programme.

My contribution:

• "Sex is meant to be pleasurable and fun, as well as a way to get pregnant, have babies or catch diseases, so why are we so surprised that young people want to try it before they understand the implications.
• Sexuality education is a life long process, encompassing many facets. In line with IPPF and UNICEF, and from 20 years experience in Family Planning and Sexual Health, I am an advocate of rights based comprehensive sexuality education.
• Much of my time has been spent in ground breaking situations as an Outreach Clinical Nurse Specialist, predominantly working with vulnerable groups on the streets and in the alleyways, nooks and crannies of south London , in men's prisons, a boxing ring - and cyber space.
• Comprehensive sexuality education encourages, but does not dictate, the delay of penetrative sexual activity, be that anal, oral or vaginal sex. It also gives young people permission to say No, in our increasingly 'adult, sexualised and confusing world', until they feel ready and are equipped with better life skills for negotiating safer sexual encounters.
• We should not assume that adults automatically know what to teach children about sex or relationships, just because they are the ‘grown ups' – or, that they even want to teach it.
• This is a delicate subject, packed with so many different personal opinions, taboos, religious and cultural variations, as well as fetishes, fantasies and facts, that many people feel uncomfortable discussing it, at all.
• A whole generation has missed out on HIV education, and before that, many of their parents weren't taught well, so how can we expect young adults to pass this knowledge on to today's children?
• It should be a well defined, holistic part of the curriculum and teachers/influencers of all types need clear guidance, training and updating.
• I have always taught from an activity perspective rather than a group target perspective.
• This encourages critical thinking towards more responsible behaviour, without necessitating anyone's enquiry, admission or expression of preferred sexual practice.
• We should never forget that this subject is important to us, but it is not to the majority. That is, until something goes wrong. But that triggers another teaching and learning opportunity.
• What are ‘the facts of life?' Right now, we're just about ‘treading water' with this subject but we will soon drown, if it's not invested in seriously and given more emphasis, and importance.
• I think we need a flexible framework, with compulsory components, that are taught in an age appropriate and culturally sensitive manner, from an early age, repeated in more depth as children mature.
• This gradual exposure should help to normalise acceptance of a broad range of sexuality, reduce stigma and taboo, as well as encourage greater respect for self, and others.
• Group learning is practical and cost effective compared with individual situations but both are required, for each of us to learn effectively.
• This has obvious implications for manpower and budgets, but IF IT ALSO produces a reduction in overall sexual ill health, teen pregnancies, HIV and Hepatitis transmission, it will pay great dividends.
• What is appropriate at one age, in one area, with one set of YP may not be with another, but we all have to understand the biology, anatomy and physiology of sex before we can understand the emotional, along with the implications of our actions, and those of others towards us.
• I think that both fathers and mothers should be offered updating classes and that young people should have to undertake a course of study, with marked homework, related to each of the components in the framework.
• Maybe parents could do the coursework, too. I ALMOST jest!
• I also think that joint classes, with parents and children present, would be a useful addition.

• In conclusion : This subject is hard to teach and it IS a lifelong journey. It's also a case of teamwork. Parents, teachers, faith leaders, healthcare professionals, youth and social workers all helping to form a well rounded and sexually confident individual, with a good level of understanding and self-esteem AND AS FEW sexual hang-ups as possible. It is achievable. "

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Complete Programme

Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar: Sexual Health & Young People
Timing: Morning, 2nd April 2008
Venue: Sixty One Whitehall, Westminster SW1A 2ET
Agenda subject to unexpected change

8.45 – 9.00 Registration

9.00 – 9.05 Chairman’s opening remarks

Jo Swinson MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs

9.05 – 9.30 The current situation

Themes: Recent trends in STIs in young adults - is there a growing problem? What are the consequences of untreated STIs? Are there variations across different population groups and regions of the country? Why are young adults at particula risk of STI?

Dr Gwenda Hughes, Head of the STI Section, Health Protection Agency

Questions and comments from the floor

9.30 – 10.30 Sex education in the classroom: PSHE and SRE

Themes: The role and effectiveness of Sex and Relationships Eduation (SRE) as prt of a wider Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) programme. Is creating a national method for teaching the “facts of life” the best way to improve sexual health among young people? Balancing responsible teaching with providing the information that young people need. The role sexual delay promotion can playas par of sex education. What i appropriate for young people, and how can teachers and education service providers ensure they are giving children the best PSHE and SRE?

Lucy Emmerson, Senior Development Officer, Sex Education Forum, National Children’s Bureau

Helen Knox, Founder and Managing Director, Sexplained

Emma Croghan, Independent Nurse Consultant, & Consultant Clinical Editor, British Journal of School Nursing

Gareth Davies, Young Leaders Project Manager, THT

Rachel Gardner, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Romance Academy

Robert Sassoon, Member of Youth Parliament

Questions and comments from the floor

10.30 – 10.55 Moving forward: How can sexual health be improved?

Themes: What i the best way to promote sexual health to young people? Where does responsibility lie, and how can the groups involved work together to implement policy and provide sexual health advice and information services that mee the needs of young people?

Simon Blake, Chief Executive, Brook

Questions and comments from the floor

10.55 – 11.00 Chairman’s closing remarks

Jo Swinson MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs

11.00 – 11.20 Coffee

11.20 – 11.25 Chairman’s opening remarks

Nadine Dorries MP, Member, Select Committee on Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills

11.25 – 12.25 Beyond the school gates: Providing support and communicating with young people outside education

Themes: How can sexual health messages most effectively be communicated and promoted outside school? How do we correctly identify the needs of young people, including those who are not in education, and what more can be don to meet these needs? The role of the pharmacy, NHS services, the familyand youth-facing media. How can we help young people accessservices, and have targets for access to genitourinay medicine (GUM) servies within 48 hours improved service?

Steve Penfold, Delivery Manager, Sexual Health National Support Team, Department of Health

Dr Ann McPherson, Chair, Adolescent Task Group, Royal College of General Practitioners

Dr Eva Jungmann, Consultant Physician GUM/HIV, Camden PCT

Alison Poxon, Teenage Pregnancy Manager, Lincolnshire County Council

Colette McCreedy, Chief Pharmacist and Director of Pharmacy, National Pharmacy Association

Charles Shepherd, Head of Health Promotion, Durex

Tracey Cox, Sex and Relationship Expert

Questions and comments from the floor

12.25 – 12.55 Sexual health and young people: The view from the Department of Health

Andrea Duncan, Programme Manager, Sexual Health and HIV, Department of Health

Questions and comments from the floor

12.55 – 13.00 Chairman’s & WHF closing remarks

Nadine Dorries MP, Member of the Select Committee on Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills

Peter van Gelder, Director, Westminster Health Forum

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