If you’re flying from Birmingham Airport this week, make sure you look out for the Terrence Higgins Trust stand in the departures lounge of the main airport.  For the fourth year running, the charity’s Midlands centre is working with Birmingham Airport and Solihull Primary Care Trust to give out condoms and health promotion advice to young people flying off to European sun, sea and sand destinations. 

Jackie Redding, Director of Development and Client Services for Terrence Higgins Trust (Midlands) said:  “We’re making it easy for people to take care of their sexual health on holiday. Our stand at Birmingham Airport has loads of information and advice, as well as free condoms, E111 forms and other travel information. We’ll be there every day, so make sure you drop by and see us before you fly. We want to make sure you don’t come back from your holiday with more than you bargained for.”

Paul Sheehan, Sexual Health and HIV Coordinator for Solihull Primary Care Trust said, "By targeting young people aged 18 to 30 travelling to popular destinations such as Ibiza, Spain and the Greek Isles, we hope to provide information and advice to help raise awareness of their sexual health.”

He continues: "Our aim is not to tell people what to do, but to encourage them to be as aware and safe as possible whilst on holiday. This campaign plays a key part in the Primary Care Trust's Sexual Health action plan and our joint Teenage Pregnancy Action Plan, developed with Solihull Council, to ensure that we work together to reduce the amount of sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancies across the borough."

The stand is aimed at 18 to 30 year olds travelling to popular summer destinations such as Ibiza, Aya Napa and Magaluf.  It coincides with Sexual Health Week, which runs from 2nd to 8th August.  

Ends

Notes to editors

• An ICM survey carried out for Terrence Higgins Trust in 2002 found that two thirds of the public don’t think young people are given enough information about the risks of unprotected sex – a concern echoed by two thirds of young people themselves

• The survey also found that almost a third of 18-24 year-olds think there is a cure for HIV

• AN ICM survey carried out in June this year found that three quarters of people questioned thought sexual health should be a priority for the NHS.

• Terrence Higgins Trust Midlands provides a range of HIV and sexual health services across the West Midlands and has offices in Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton

• Sexual Health Week is co-ordinated by the fpa.