Sex education programme for those at risk of sexual exploitation

The National Children's Bureau and the Sex Education Forum have secured funding from Comic Relief to provide a programme of sex education promoting healthy relationships targeted specifically at those children most likely to suffer sexual exploitation.

Lessons in Love will draw on the experiences of young people and expert practitioners to develop a flexible programme of sex and relationships education for use with young people identified to be at risk of sexual exploitation. A training the trainer model will be used to create a nation-wide group of practitioners that are skilled and confident to deliver the programme.

While any child or young person can experience sexual exploitation, those in or leaving care, homeless or caught up in the criminal justice system are at particular risk. These young people often miss out on sex education because their school attendance is disrupted and they may have had very little discussion about it growing up at home.

Lessons in Love will aim to ensure that vulnerable children have a chance to think about what they hope for in relationships in the safety of a small group led by a trained educator. Young people will be closely involved in the design of Lessons in Love to ensure that it reflects the real-life experience of young people who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation.'

Young people state that the quality of sex and relationship education in school is falling short with 56 percent stating they did not learn what is good and bad in a relationship in school, according to research by the Sex Education Forum in 2008.

Ofsted is concerned that this inadequacy may leave children and young people vulnerable to inappropriate sexual behaviours and sexual exploitation because they have not been taught the appropriate language or developed the confidence to describe unwanted behaviours or know where to go to for help.

The Lessons in Love project is currently undertaking a call for evidence of effective sex and relationship interventions for vulnerable young people. They would like to hear about any relevant sex and relationship education programmes and resources that have been delivered by those working with young people in care, youth justice, housing, alternative education and youth support settings.

For further information on the call for evidence and how respond visit www.sexeducationforum.org.uk/about-us/lessons-in-love-project/call-for-evidence.aspx.