HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust has been awarded £1,485,621 by  the Big Lottery Fund to establish ‘Young Leaders’, a sex and relationships education (SRE) project for young people across England.   The three year project will be launched in April and will be directed entirely by the young people involved.

In seven regions across England boards of young people aged 13-18 will be recruited, trained and supported to manage their own scheme giving funds to SRE projects set up by other teenagers.   As well as increasing their knowledge of sexual health, the project will help young people develop the skills to make informed and healthy decisions around sex and relationships.  It will also develop their vocational and project management skills.

Rod Watson, Deputy Head of Health Promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) said “We’re delighted to receive this funding.  It’s the largest grant that THT has ever received from a voluntary source and it will enable a huge expansion in our work with young people.  The UK has the worst sexual health in Western Europe and this has to be tackled.  The Young Leaders project will be run by young people, for young people, and having involved over 100 teenagers in developing the project, we believe it will really make an impact where it is most needed."

THT is particularly keen to involve people who are disproportionately affected by sexual ill-health in ‘Young Leaders’, including those from minority ethnic groups as well as gay and bisexual young men. THT is also keen to work closely with youth organisations in each region to maximise the success of the project. 

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Notes to editors

1. Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services across England, Wales and Scotland.  The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual health.

2. Big Lottery Fund is the joint operating name of the New Opportunities Fund and the National Lottery Charities Board (which made grants under the name of the Community Fund).  Big Lottery Fund, launched on 1 June 2004, is distributing half of all National Lottery good cause funding across the UK.