Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) Young Leaders Project is inviting groups of young people to apply for small grants to create and deliver their own sex and relationship education projects. The grants are to educate their friends and the wider community on issues relating to sexually transmitted infections, sexual health and HIV. 

THT is looking for 13-19 year olds in London, Eastern England, the South East, the South West, the West Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside to get involved. Each area has a board of twelve young people who work on the grant giving scheme and will allocate the funds for sex and relationship education (SRE) projects. The aim is for young people to educate their peers so all the projects funded will be created and run by other teenagers.  

Gareth Davies, Young Leaders Project Manager at Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) said: “We are inviting young people to come up with innovative and creative ideas about how to educate their friends. If we like your idea then we’ll give you some money to put it into practice. All you need to do is get together with your youth club, school or other organisation to develop the idea and make an application.”

Gareth adds: “The UK has the worst sexual health in Western Europe so the Young Leaders project which is run by young people, for young people, aims to make a real difference. This is a chance for young people to shape the way their peers learn about sex and relationships, which is a major part of everyone's life. If you’re interested in getting involved, please download an application pack and find out what it’s all about!"
The sex and relationships education (known as SRE) projects can involve any or all of the following issues:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Your rights in a relationship
• Contraception
• Sexuality
• Safer sex and risk taking
• The media influence on sex and relationships
• Managing emotional relationships
• HIV infection

As well as increasing knowledge on sexual health, the project will help young people develop the skills to make informed and healthy decisions around relationships and sex.  It will also build their vocational and project management skills.

For further information, and to download an application form and guidance notes please visit www.tht.org.uk/youknowyou

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Notes to editors

• 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.
• 
  Terrence Higgins Trust was 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 launched in April and is directed entirely by the young people involved.
• 
  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.