Young people, sex and sexuality

A survey by the Sex Education Forum of 890 young people aged 14 to 25 reveals poor sex education being taught in schools. Findings include that:

• One in three said that they did not learn about consent in schools;
• 43 percent said that they did not learn about ‘what is good or bad in a relationship’;
• 96 percent demonstrated an understanding of the legal age of consent and high numbers understood the law relating to sexual offences;
• One in three they didn’t know or were unsure where to get help if they were sexually assaulted;
• Four in 10 did not know where their local sexual health clinic was located; and
• Only a third knew that a 14 year old can get contraception confidentially and less knew that a 15 year old can get an HIV test confidentially.

For further information visit www.sexeducationforum.org.uk/policy-campaigns/the-consent-issue.aspx.

Funded by the Big Lottery Fund and published by equality and diversity charity Metro, Youth Chances research, following a survey of 7,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning 15 to 25 year olds, has found that 52 percent of respondents had self-harmed, while 44 percent had considered suicide as a result of discrimination in education, employment or the community.

For further information visit www.youthchances.org.

Lastly, Our Voices project, a three-year, pan-European initiative coordinated by the University of Bedfordshire, will promote the involvement of young people in efforts to prevent sexual violence of children across Europe.

If your project is involved or interested in participatory practice and developing youth-led work on the topic of sexual violence, email claire.cody@beds.ac.uk by Friday 31 January.

For further information on the project visit www.beds.ac.uk/research/iasr/centres/intcent.