This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Next phase of Healthy Respect
24/03/2005
The second phase of the Healthy Respect project in
Lothian will give young people access to better sexual
health services and information, Health Minister Andy Kerr
said today.
It will be supported by £1.9 million funding over the
next three years and will build on the lessons learned from
phase one. It also builds on the national sexual health
strategy - Respect and Responsibility.
An evaluation shows that during phase one Healthy
Respect has set down foundations to improve sexual health
and relationships outcomes for young people but there is
still more to do.
Mr Kerr said:
"Improving Scotland's sexual health is central to our
public health agenda. It is not something to be embarrassed
about or to shrug off as someone else's problem.
"By empowering young people with the values of respect
and responsibility they will be able to make sensible
choices about their own sexual health.
"Since the launch of Healthy Respect in 2001 work has
been ongoing in and around 10 schools in Lothian. Healthy
Respect has been pivotal in establishing innovative
services for and access to hard-to-reach groups. There have
been 11 health drop-in centres established during phase one
and the evaluation shows they have proved popular with
young people.
"Healthy Respect has also delivered improved screening
and detection of chlamydia. This was largely achieved
through the chlamydia testing programme which resulted in
over 10,000 postal testing kits being distributed in a
range of retail and youth service outlets across
Lothian.
"We are not complacent and know that there is still a
considerable amount of work to do in this area.
"I am pleased to announce £1.9 million funding over the
next three years to support the implementation of phase
two. Sexual health is a crucial area in which Scotland
needs to do better and we must learn what works and why
with young people in order to make changes for the good. I
expect to see this money delivering better services for
young people in Lothian.
"Phase two will work in two specific areas of Lothian -
across the whole local authority area of Midlothian, and in
North-West Edinburgh. In this area those young people in
the least well off areas will be targeted.
"It will continue to build on education, information and
services for young people. Phase two will continue to
encourage youth and parental involvement. We have set four
new objectives specific to the next phase.
"The first is to continue to improve education in sex
and relationships in schools. As well as the 10 secondary
schools involved in phase one, a further nine secondary
schools, one special school and 13 primary schools will be
involved in phase two.
"I am particular pleased that Healthy Respect and the
Catholic Church will be working together to develop
appropriate resources and training programme that can be
used in Catholic Schools.
"This does not mean anything inappropriate will be
taught in schools. All Sex and Relationships Education
(SRE) will be suitable to the age and stage of the young
people in the class. Healthy Respect will continue to
engage with parents over SRE.
"The second objective will specifically look to provide
sex and relationship support for young people at risk of
poor sexual health outcomes. Traditionally this group would
include looked-after-children, disaffected pupils and other
vulnerable young people. Healthy Respect will work with
social work teams and will look to provide education and
service opportunities for this group.
"Access to services is key to improve sexual health
outcomes. Through the third objective Healthy Respect will
build on its experience in Phase One to provide access to
services through health drop-ins and there will be a
particular focus on deprived areas.
"The fourth objective is to improve attitudes to sexual
health and relationships especially among young people and
parents. Healthy Respect will continue to promote their
work and the services they provide for young people in the
Lothians. There will also be a specific awareness campaign
aimed at parents focussing on the need for building family
relationships and talking to their children about sexual
health.
"There has been a lot of criticism and inaccurate
reporting around what Healthy Respect delivers for young
people in Lothian.
"Healthy Respect does not encourage young people to have
underage sex. It does not provide emergency contraception
in schools, nor does it have any plans to do so.
"Healthy Respect's work encourages young people to delay
sexual activity until they are ready and in a mature and
loving relationship. The values of respect and
responsibility underline all of their work.
"We do not know all the answers to solving Lothian and
Scotland's poor sexual health problems. But through
initiatives like Healthy Respect we are learning all the
time. These lessons will be widely shared across the
country through the Sexual Health and Well-being Learning
Network set up for this purpose."
Brian Cavanagh, Chair of NHS Lothian, said:
"NHS Lothian is firmly committed to improving the sexual
health and wellbeing of young people. We are proud to have
hosted the first phase of Healthy Respect and are delighted
to continue hosting the Project during Phase two."
Healthy Respect was launched in 2001 and is a national
health demonstration project that tests new ways of working
with the aim of improving young people's knowledge of
sexual health issues through education, information and
accessible services. It has received over £3.5m to date
since its launch.