Last year HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) launched Young Leaders, a three year project to get young people in London involved in educating their friends and peers about sex and relationships. The project is now reaching the end of year one and over £26,000 of grants has been awarded to 33 different groups of young people to run their own projects across England.

THT is now inviting new groups of young people aged 13-19 to apply for the next round of grants worth up to £1000 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. The deadline for grant applications is 27th June.

THT is also looking to recruit a new board of young people aged 13-19 for the second year of the project. The board members will support young people in the community to create innovative education projects about relationships and sexual health. They will also decide which ones receive a grant to run their project.

Camilla Smith, Young Leaders Participation Officer for THT said: “Young Leaders has received some fantastic ideas from groups of young people for sex and relationships education (SRE) projects this year. These projects will support young people in London to learn more about relationships and sex and will help address the unprecedented rise in STIs and unplanned teenage pregnancy in the UK today.”

Camilla adds: “We’re now looking for more young people to get involved in Young Leaders. If you’re interested in getting involved, please visit our website or come along to one of our open days and find out what it’s all about! The open day will give you the opportunity to either find out more about submitting an application for your sexual health project and trying to get funding, or becoming a board member yourself.” 

Forthcoming open days in the London area:

• Thursday 29th May, Kings Cross - 18.00 - 21.00
• Saturday 31st May, King's Cross - 14.00 - 17.00
• Sunday 1st June, King's Cross - 15.00 - 18.00

To attend one of the open days call Camilla on 020 7812 1807, and to download an application form and guidance notes please visit www.tht.org.uk/youknowyou

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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. 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.

3. 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.