Healthy Relationships, and Sex Education Program
“LUSH was really a informative programme, the pupils were comfortable enough to share and fully engage with the discussions. A very positive project where all the pupils were reminded that they are unique and valuable.”
At LUSH we believe in the importance of young people being given the opportunity to study a curriculum for life. PSHE is an essential part of this giving young people the skills, knowledge and support they need to think about some of life’s big issues.
LUSH has been continually developed and grown since 2010 here in Swindon by ourselves. The programme recognises that young people need safe spaces to talk with trusted adults about these life issues in honest and supportive ways. Young people learn about relationships and sex from the very youngest age. Some of the things they learn are incorrect, confusing and frightening. It is increasingly critical that we talk meaningfully to our young people to help them make sense of their relationships with others, the pressures they experience and those things that can be a hindrance to their wellbeing and safety.
Our education system is increasingly aware of the need for good quality relationships, sex and PSHE education as highlighted by the Life Lessons report (2015). The LUSH programme helps schools to tackle difficult topics with their students as part of their wider PSHE schemes of work through quality workshops led by youthwork professionals that come as visitors from outside the school community.
LUSH has been created by Swindon Youth for Christ – a team of fully qualified youth and community workers who have had over 15 years experience of working in local secondary schools. In delivering the LUSH programme it’s our hope that by learning about the wider, and equally critical, aspects of relationships, sex and personal wellbeing young people will better understand reasons for delaying sexual activity until they are ready and feel empowered to do so and how to access help and support when they need it.
This programme consists of 3 lessons is aimed at year 9 students.
– Relationships: The Foundations & Pressures
This session enables students to explore the foundations of forming and developing positive relationships and what characterises a positive relationship. Students consider the pressures they feel when thinking about relationships and the programme encourages students to develop in their confidence and self esteem to exert their rights as individuals to be able to form stable loving relationships.
– Relationships: Core Components & Key Issues
This session explores students own opinions and values and how they affect the way they approach relationships both now and in the future. Students consider what makes a relationship strong and think about big issues such as sexting, pornography and consent.
– Relationships: Positive Long term commitment & Decisions
This session allows students to consider and explore the values of longer term relationships and what we can learn from those, whilst examining the positives and negatives for marriage and commitment. Students think about the decisions they will make in a relationship and how they can be in control of those decisions. We end by providing students the opportunity to anonymously ask questions about relationships and sex to the team.
To request a brochure, or for more information please contact the team via the below form.