APPENDIX 7
Memorandum by Centre for HIV and Sexual
Health (SH 14)
There are three main elements to improving the
nation's sexual health. These are the provision of:
— excellent sexual health services;
— excellent sex and relationships education;
and
— excellent sexual health promotion.
The Centre for HIV and Sexual Health, a national
centre based in Sheffield, and working with local communities
as well as at regional, national and international levels, contributes
to all the above activities. However, because it is the one that
can fall off the agenda, it is the third of these, which is specifically
addressed here.
It is vital that sexual health promotion, including
HIV prevention, does not become a "Cinderella issue"
in sexual health because this offers a long-term solution to many
of the sexual health problems which challenge us, from HIV and
STI's, to unwanted and unintended pregnancies and psychosexual
problems. All districts and PCT's should therefore have robust
and rigorous sexual health promotion programmes, building on the
evidence of what works.
These should:
— particularly target vulnerable groups
eg young people, women, gay/bisexual/men who have sex with men,
black and ethnic minorities and African communities, and IV drug
users;
— use a variety of methods which actively
engage individuals, groups and communities;
— offer the opportunity to acquire
skills such as negotiation, saying "no", developing
friendships and resisting pressure and coercion;
— increase people's confidence in accessing
sexual health services;
— draw on a variety of media such as
printed resources (eg leaflets, packs), interactive ones (eg CD
ROMS, board games, the internet), and visual ones (eg videos and
posters);
— be multi-disciplinary and interagency
wherever possible to ensure the maximum "reach";
— address self-esteem building, assertiveness,
and emotional development as key issues which impact on sexual
health; and
— be based in a sense of entitlement
to good sexual health and responsibilities to self and others.
This Centre has 15 years of expertise in this
field to draw on, publishing a range of resources used nationally,
training sexual health trainers throughout the UK and Ireland,
and with a rich fund of community based expertise to share. If
we are to ensure a sexually healthy future for the people of this
country, sexual health promotion will be a vital area of exploration
and development. The Centre would welcome the opportunity to contribute
to the Select Committee's consideration of this topic.
WORKING
TOWARDS SEXUAL
HEALTH FOR
ALL
This leaflet offers an introduction to the Centre
for HIV and Sexual Health—to the values and principles which
inform our work, to our activities at local, regional and national
levels and to our continuing practice in supporting Sexual Health
Promotion and HIV Prevention initiatives. To find out more about
any of the work described here, or to discuss ways in which we
may be able to help you, see the contact details on the back page.
WORKING WITHIN
A HOLISTIC
MODEL OF
SEXUAL HEALTH
Our holistic model of working acknowledged the
interplay between a variety of factors in constructing and supporting
people's sexual health. These include political, social and cultural
factors and health inequalities, as well as issues relating to
individual experience, emotions, sexuality, sensuality and spirituality.
Our approach affirms people's right to sex, which is consensual,
mutual and equal, and the importance of pleasure, intimacy, desire,
love and fulfilling relationships.
Within the wider aim of working towards sexual
health for all, our specific objectives include:
— reducing unintended teenage pregnancies;
— the prevention of HIV and other STIs;
— the promotion of positive and mutually
satisfying relationships; and
— the provision of excellent Sex and
Relationships Education.
We are also committed to developing a more positive
and affirming overall culture for sexual health, and an environment
in which this is seen as a basic human right.
OUR VALUES
AND PRINCIPLES
We believe that the most effective sexual health
promotion is multi-faceted, including activities such as:
— The development of policy and strategies
at local, national and organisational levels which address sexual
health inequalities, support the development of positive sexual
health and of caring relationships and ensure that sensitive,
appropriate and accessible services are available.
— The provision of excellent sexual
health and HIV—and other health—services, delivered
by staff who are well trained and supported and who have the necessary
knowledge, skills and attitudes to promote the health of their
service-users.
— Comprehensive Sex and Relationships
Education from an early age. This needs to be person-centred,
dealing with emotions, anxieties and human sexuality, encouraging
skills development and answering questions and concerns—rather
than just giving information on biology, reproduction and contraception.
— Constructively and helpfully challenging
prejudice, stigma and discrimination and enabling people to move
beyond these barriers to build alliances, to claim their own sexuality
and to respect the choices and life-styles of others.
— Enabling individuals, groups and
communities to gain the skills, understanding and information
to take control of their own sexual health and to be empowered
to make positive, responsible choices.
OUR WORK
NATIONALLY
The Centre operates at a national level, through
activities including:
— A comprehensive national training
programme of courses delivered in Sheffield and throughout the
UK and Ireland on a broad variety of topics related to Sexual
Health Promotion, HIV Prevention, Youth Work, Sex and Relationships
Education and Organisational Development.
— Contributing to emerging national
strategies and policy and to the curriculum of appropriate professional
training bodies.
— A wide range of publications, resources
and materials including packs and manuals, leaflets, games, posters,
videos, credit cards and tool-kits.
— Partnerships and collaboration with
the other major national sexual health promotion agencies.
— National and Regional conferences,
seminars and workshops on many sexual health issues.
— Service reviews, organisational audits
and community needs assessments.
— Tailor-made training courses commissioned
by individual organisations, local networks and Forums.
— Consultancy on a range of sexual
health and health promotion issues.
— Support for those developing and
implementing local Sexual Health Strategies and Projects.
— Input to conferences, seminars, study
days and workshops—for example by speeches, workshops and
presentations on practice as well as inclusion of Publications
Catalogues and Training Programmes in Delegates' Conference Packs.
— Organisational development, consultancy
and input.
— Provision of information about the
Centre's activities and developments via our web-site.
OUR WORK
IN SHEFFIELD
We are still rooted in our local community-based
work. In this, our activities include:
— Community development—particularly
with marginalised, vulnerable or stigmatised groups.
— Support for teachers, schools and
youth workers in Sex and Relationships Education.
— Consultancy, training, resources
and support for those working in Primary Care settings.
— Training for staff and volunteers
within statutory services—such as health, education and
social services—as well as for those in voluntary and community-based
organisations.
— HIV prevention initiatives, HIV and
AIDS education and work to reduce the incidence of other STIs.
— Projects, training and ongoing work
to reduce unintended teenage pregnancies in the city.
— A major resources library of books,
videos, games and other materials related to Sexual Health Promotion
available for loan or reference, and a catalogue listing these.
— Awarness-raising work eg by public
campaigns and through liaison with the media.
— Subsidised places and Centre-funded
places for Sheffield participants on many of our national training
courses, conferences and seminars.
— Strong partnerships and collaboration
with other organisations and agencies offering sexual health and
related services.
— Support for organisations in developing
sexual health policies, strategies and action plans.
— Community needs assessments, action-research
and evaluation.
— Free materials and resources for
dissemination within Sheffield.
— A Directory of Local Sexual Health
Services including information on how to refer people to these.
— Networking and agenda-building opportunities
for meeting and planning with other colleagues eg via Forums and
Think-Tanks.
— Capacity-building within communities
through support, training, skills development and the provision
of resources, advice and information.
TO FIND
OUT MORE
If you would like to know more about how we
may be able to help you, do contact us. You may find the following
resources useful:
— The up-to-date programme of the Centre's
national Training Courses.
— Our Publications and Materials Catalogue.
— Our Annual Review, detailing much
of our work locally and nationally.
— Packs, Tool-kits and Manuals produced
by the Centre.
— A Resources catalogue, listing what
is available in our Resources Centre for reference or loan.
— Regular updates of the Centre's activities.
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