Response to Draft Quality Requirements for Sexual Health Services in Wales

Jim Stewart Policy Director, Gweini

Going Public

Vale Romance Academy

October 2007

Introduction to Going Public

Going Public, a Cardiff-based charity, started its school work in 1992 under the banner of The Seduction Project. Since then it has traveled to schools all over the UK, with over 150,000 students having attended a presentation. Using a combination of drama, video, speech, games and discussion, The Seduction looks at the many pressures facing young people today in the whole area of sex and sexuality. Among the issues it tackles are the media, peer pressure and self worth. The presentation has received acclaim from pupils, teachers, head-teachers, governors and parents alike.

For more information go to www.goingpublic.org.uk

Introduction to the Vale Romance Academy

The Romance Academy is a fifteen-week project specifically designed for teenagers. Based on a Christian ethos, the project looks at sex, relationships & love, among other topics such as the media, alcohol and drugs.

There have been 13 Academies held in the UK since 2004. The first two held in Wales in 2006, in Penarth and Dinas Powys, received much acclaim from the Welsh media, participants and parents. The third, the Vale Romance Academy, begins in November 2007.

For more information go to www.valeromanceacademy.org.uk

Draft Sexual Health Services Quality Requirements

Cover sheet for responses to consultation

Name: Jim Stewart

Job title: Policy Director, Gweini

Contact details:

Tel No: 02920 22 98 22

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Are you responding as an individual?

No

If no, on behalf of which organisation are you responding?

On behalf of Gweini, the Vale Romance Academy & Going Public.

If you are responding on behalf of your organisation how were the views of your colleagues ascertained?

I send out a fortnightly Gweini Post email service to over 500 people in Wales who are involved in the voluntary sector. In the 31/08/07 edition, I alerted readers to this Consultation and invited interested parties to send me an email.

In September, I arranged a meeting with leaders from Going Public and the Vale Romance Academy - two organisations with a Christian ethos that teach widely in the area of sexual health - to discuss the consultation and to submit a joint response. Both teach to a wide range of young people, both within Wales's faith communities and to those outside.

Alison Jensen and Cath Evans came on behalf of Going Public, with Naomi Roberts and Nathan Scott-Cook representing the Vale Romance Academy. Each one plays an active role in their organisation and is thus able to make informed comments on the consultation document. With all of us having read the document prior to the meeting, we proceeded to systematically work through the questions, identifying areas of agreement and disagreement.

Also present was Matthew Rees, a committed Christian who has just finished his A-levels and who is taking a gap year, working both with Gweini and with his church.

I drafted up the notes and submitted them to everyone in attendance for their perusal and to make any amendments.

Draft Sexual Health Services Quality Requirements

Specific questions...

I. Sexual Health Networks

1. Have we omitted any key area? Will the requirement achieve the aim?

• The idea of a network is good
  

• What about school work? Is there awareness of services that enhance sexual health that are taught in schools?

1. Is any of the content inappropriate/inaccurate?

1. Have you any suggestions for improvement?

• Faith communities would like to be involved and take part. Have they been approached? Is there awareness of what faith communities are doing in this area?
  

• Contact national groups like Evangelical Alliance, Cytun, Gweini and the Inter-faith Forum for their contacts; meet with Going Public & Romance Academy

II. Sexual Health Promotion

1. Have we omitted any key area? Will the requirement achieve the aim?

• The media often play a negative role in the sexual wellbeing of young people and adults (e.g. lack of good role models, adults behaving like teenagers). What is being done to combat this?
  

• Is there a strong enough emphasis on the emotional wellbeing of young people and adults?

1. Is any of the content inappropriate/inaccurate?

• How is this evaluated? The term "culturally appropriate" is subjective and can mean different things to different people.

1. Have you any suggestions for improvement?

• Highlight in a non-judgmental way the damage that can be done by making wrong decisions

III. Sexually Transmitted Infections

1. Have we omitted any key area? Will the requirement achieve the aim?

• In total agreement but need to address the emotional consequences of relationships

1. Is any of the content inappropriate/inaccurate?

1. Have you any suggestions for improvement?

• Going into schools can assist achieving this aim; commissioning organisations who work in schools to provide services to reduce STIs

IV. Contraceptive Services

1. Have we omitted any key area? Will the requirement achieve the aim?

• Are faith communities included? They can provide a supportive environment and community for girls with unwanted pregnancies and those suffering from STIs. How wide a range of counseling services are there? Are the variety of options available highlighted in the counseling?

1. Is any of the content inappropriate/inaccurate?

1. Have you any suggestions for improvement?

• Establish a database of faith communities throughout Wales, by liaising with umbrella bodies and known organisations who are service providers in this field and related fields

V. Abortion Services

1. Have we omitted any key area? Will the requirement achieve the aim?

• Is counseling for the long-term implications of abortion available?

1. Is any of the content inappropriate/inaccurate?

1. Have you any suggestions for improvement?

• Need to look holistically at the wellbeing of the individual, including spiritual and emotional wellbeing.

VI. HIV and AIDS

1. Have we omitted any key area? Will the requirement achieve the aim?

1. Is any of the content inappropriate/inaccurate?

1. Have you any suggestions for improvement?

• Bridges need to be built with faith communities - people suffering from HIV and AIDS often seek spiritual support and faith communities are uniquely able to respond to these needs. Build up a network of faith communities that have had experience in supporting people suffering from HIV and AIDS

VII. Psychosexual Services

1. Have we omitted any key area? Will the requirement achieve the aim?

• Is there engagement with the Voluntary Sector to provide these services? Is enough emphasis being placed on emotional wellbeing?

1. Is any of the content inappropriate/inaccurate?

1. Have you any suggestions for improvement?

General questions...

I. Do you agree with the seven requirements selected?

• Not embracing enough, a sense that there needs to be an acknowledgement that there are a wider range of options, covering physical, emotional, spiritual & mental wellbeing

II. If implemented will they promote improvement in sexual health?

• Hopefully

III. Do the requirements promote equality of access and quality of services across Wales?

• They try to but there will be the reality of better services in the cities than in the rural areas. This needs to be addressed owing to higher numbers of young people from Eastern Europe relocating to rural parts of Wales

IV. Do the requirements reflect the minimum level of service you would like to provide/have provided?

• Yes

V. Will the requirements be useful to users of the services?

• Yes

VI. Will the requirements be useful to commissioners and service providers?

• Yes, but those outside of the network, service providers from faith communities for example, will be at a disadvantage

VII. What support would you require in their implementation?

VIII. Additional comments