Young Leaders from HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) are holding a sex and relationships education (SRE) conference on Saturday February 28th in Central London. Dawn Butler MP, who has responsibility for the Department for Children, Schools and Families, will deliver the keynote speech and Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of THT, will open the conference.

Young Leaders is an England wide project where 13-19 year olds educate their friends and peers about relationships and sex. Boards of Young Leaders across England support other teenagers to create innovative education projects about relationships and sexual health. They do this by awarding small grants to groups of young people who develop and deliver SRE projects based on their own needs.

The aims of the conference are:

·        To celebrate a year of Young Leaders.

·        To make ‘Sex and Relationship Education’ part of everyday language.

·        To inform decision makers how to make SRE work for young people now.

·        To meet, mix and make friends

Throughout the day the issues covered will include living with HIV, relationships sex and faith, gender, the media’s role in sex education and making SRE more positive. Dawn Butler has been invited to speak about SRE in schools and the important role that young people can take in educating their peers.

Gareth Davies, Young Leaders Project Manager said “The Young Leaders have been involved in supporting and funding hundreds of SRE projects all over England.  This conference will bring many of them together to share experiences and learn even more about SRE.  We’re delighted that Dawn Butler is coming along to hear more about the fantastic work our Young Leaders have been doing throughout the year.”

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