The National Lottery has announced today that HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has reached the semi-finals of the National Lottery Awards. The awards are an annual search to find the UK's favourite Lottery-funded projects and ‘Young Leaders’ – THT’s sex and relationships education (SRE) project for young people has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Health Project’ category. The public can start voting for their favourite from 22 June – 10 July, and THT is hoping that people will lend their support to THT.

Young leaders is a grant giving scheme which gives young people aged 13–19 the opportunity to set up their own SRE projects in seven regions across England. As well as increasing their knowledge of sexual health, Young Leaders aims to help young people develop the skills to make informed and healthy decisions around sex and relationships.

Since it launched in 2007, Young Leaders has awarded over £88,000 to 110 different projects nationally, reaching well over 16,000 young people.

Jenn (18) from London said "The project has not only educated us sex and relationship wise, but empowered us with the skills and knowledge to educate others as well. Its impact on us as young people in a more sexualised culture has been invaluable. It sounds like a cliché but it's genuinely changed my life. Please support such an amazing project by voting for us!"

Gareth Davies, Young Leaders Project Manager said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have reached the semi-final of the National Lottery Awards. Without funding Young Leaders would not have got off the ground. It’s the young people that can take the credit for this as they’re in control of the project and they make the decisions so it’s fantastic that all their hard work has been recognised in this way. We’re really hoping the public get behind us and show their support by voting for us."

The public can start voting for their favourite project from 9am on 22 June. Voting will close at midday on 10 July. Votes can be cast online by clicking here or by calling 0844 686 1553.

Once the voting closes, three projects with the most votes will go through to a final round of public voting, which takes place from 3-14 August. The winners and runners-up will be announced during a special gala BBC1 television show, later in the summer. The winner of each category will receive a £2,000 cash prize, to be spent on their project. 

For more information on Young Leaders visit: www.tht.org.uk/youknowyou.

Notes to Editor

• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We're here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups.  We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all. Terrence Higgins Trust relies on donations to deliver a wide range of services. To make a donation, visit www.tht.org.uk
  
• 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 2007 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.