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turning the tide
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"Single Britons are the most promiscuous in the world," an international survey of sexual attitudes says. It found that 59% of Britons thought it normal for a thirtysomething to have had ten or more lovers before getting married. So said an article in the Guardian newspaper.
More recently, in breaking news of a survey done in Bliss magazine, the Telegraph informed us that almost a quarter of 14 year old girls claim to have had sex and say they have had an average of three partners. Among those who said they had had sex, 65% admitted to unprotected sex and 45% say they had a one-night stand. Alcohol played a part with 60% of sexually active 14 year olds saying they had sex while drunk and half saying they regretted it later, with 29% saying, "they did not even like their sexual partner."
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It is against this backdrop that a multimedia Sex & Relationship Education programme called evaluate…informing choice has been developed. If the results of this survey are a true representation, and the UK’s shamefully high rates of unintended teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections seem to bear this out, then there is indeed much to do to turn the tide. The survey concludes that there is a desperate need among young people for accurate and reliable information on sex and relationships so that they can make informed choices about when they are ready to have sex and to resist peer pressure.
The evaluate programme consists of a set of three age-appropriate multimedia presentations delivered in secondary schools to whole year groups by teams of trained volunteer educators. There is also a new presentation for primary schools for years 5/6, At the heart of the project lies the belief that ‘every young person is a unique and valuable individual, capable of making and maintaining healthy choices if suitably equipped and supported.’
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Working from the understanding that many issues confronting young people in the UK stem from low self-esteem, evaluate tackles media influence and peer pressure, as well as drug and alcohol abuse, STI’s and teen pregnancy.
“Why would young people make healthy choices if they do not value themselves?” asks Sue Lindars, Project Manager for evaluate. “Much of the sex & relationship work in schools assumes that young people will have sex under age and promotes safe sex in response to this. But condoms are only safer and not completely safe. Raising awareness of the difference between safe sex and safer sex is just one area in which evaluate hopes to challenge set beliefs.
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By bringing a fresh, modern and direct edge to Sex & Relationship Education and lifestyle choices, evaluate teams hope to challenge traditional methods of sex education in schools and enable healthy decisions to be made. “We believe that our educators will be like a breath of fresh air as they take this affirming message into schools. We want to show young people that they matter; that they are unique and important, that their opinions and what they say is valued.”
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Student Questionnaires completed at the end of each session show that the young audience have taken this message seriously. In the section headed, ‘If you have already started to have sex’, many answer ‘Yes’ to the following questions. ‘Did this session help you understand the risks more?’ (84%). ‘Did it make you think more about using contraception?’ (73%). ‘Did this session change your mind about waiting?’ 40%).
Of those who have not yet started to have sex, the majority say that the session helped them to delay starting a sexual relationship (67%); improved their confidence to wait longer (75%); and helped them resist pressure (69%). A positive impression of sex is conveyed, as the most frequent responses to the question ‘What impression did this session give you about sex?’ are that sex is special,worth saving, enjoyable, good, fun, exciting but risky.
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This Is Your Life! for 11/12s, focuses on their worth as unique and special individuals. Covering a wide range of choices, this presentation which includes video clips, encourages them to evaluate what they see and hear on television and in the movies, as well as building their self-esteem. Lasting an hour and a quarter and delivered to large audiences of up to 150 students, ‘This Is Your Life!’ makes use of role play, group work and teaches assertiveness skills. The effect of drugs and alcohol on decision making is explored as well as technical information given. Qualities of friendship are considered and a lively quiz revisits and consolidates information given throughout the presentation.
Sex:\HowSafe? for 12/14s and Just The One! for 14/18s build further layers of information and enable students, by discussion in small groups, to examine the nature of lasting relationships, commitment, trust and faithfulness. Media pressures are examined and the message behind popular music, magazines and advertising explored, as well as considering risk taking behaviour.
For further information contact the evaluate office on 01525 375210
or email info@evaluate.org.uk
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