The new courses that have been arranged by the Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual Health Unit at East Sussex County Council in partnership with the local NHS, have been designed for people in organisations and groups working with young people in the county.
The aim is to provide an introduction to Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and examine the issues around sexuality among young people. This will include the law relating to young people and sexual behaviour.
Councillor Meg Stroude, the County Council’s Lead Member for Children and Families said: “Our teenage pregnancy and sexual health team, in partnership with the local NHS, does a large amount of work throughout the year raising awareness of issues surrounding sexual health and this is part of that work.
“We have been working extremely closely with schools, colleges and the wider community on a range of programmes and outreach services to improve the delivery of relationship and sex education and have also worked very hard to make sexual health services for young people more widely available and easier to access. This training will build on that work and is open to anyone in the county who works with young people.”
National teenage pregnancy figures published at the end of February showed a drop in teenage conceptions in East Sussex compared to a rise nationally. The local rate is also considerably lower than the national average.
Councillor Stroude added: “The figures confirm that the extensive work being done in East Sussex is having a positive effect on conception rates. However, we want to build on that and ensure the downward trend continues. This training will help people working with young people to understand the issues better and be more confident in dealing with them.”
The initial training courses will be held in Eastbourne, Lewes and Hastings with further dates to be announced later. Any group working with young people that wants more information should contact Caroline Lovett, Teenage Pregnancy Training Co-ordinator – phone: n 01323 463366 or email: caroline.lovett@eastsussex.gov.uk
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