Sleepin' Safe, Sexin' Safe

Safer sexual health choices for homeless young people

The FPA Sleepin' Safe, Sexin' Safe project aims to increase and improve homeless young people’s knowledge of sexual health.

We work in partnership with the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint and other youth homelessness organisations.

Why this project is needed

Homeless young people are some of the most disadvantaged and socially excluded in our society. They are at more risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies and can come under pressure to exchange sex for food, shelter, drugs and money. This makes it vital to address the health needs of this group.

Many of the areas we work in across Durham and the North East are former coal mining communities with high levels of deprivation. In London we work with ethically diverse groups and communities in densely populated urban areas. Both areas have some of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the UK.

Who we help

We support homeless young people living in temporary accommodation.

We work within homelessness hostels and accommodation bases across a large, rural area in County Durham and the North East.

We also work with young people at Centrepoint accommodation services across London.

How we work

We run a course of 12 sex and relationships education (SRE) sessions that equip young people with the skills, knowledge and confidence to make informed choices about their sexual health and engage in healthy relationships.

Young people have to actively participate in the sessions which helps to increase their confidence and remove any fear and embarrassment associated with accessing sexual health services.

Sessions cover a range of topics, including contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unplanned pregnancy, relationships, sexual behaviour, and self-esteem.

We also promote social inclusion and participation, develop independent living skills and educate young people about their rights and responsibilities.

Accreditation

When a young person completes one of our sessions they are awarded an Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA) accreditation. This academic achievement can really improve a young person's confidence and can help them towards education, employment or training.

Young people in London can also join our peer education programme and be trained to support other homeless people.

Project aims and outcomes

Homeless young people will:

• Increase their knowledge and understanding of sexual health.

• Be encouraged to use sexual health services.

• Be equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to negotiate their own sexual health and relationships.

• Increase their education and employment opportunities and have evidence of their achievements.

We also help homeless organisations improve the sexual health support and information they provide to young people.

How we're funded

Sleepin' Safe, Sexin' Safe is funded by the Big Lottery Fund until December 2011.

We hope to gain funding to continue and expand the project for a further three years, with an emphasis on progression routes for young people who take part in the programme.

Who to contact

For information about Sleepin' Safe, Sexin' Safe or to discuss working with FPA as a partner or funder on similar projects contact:

Terri Ryland, Director of Practice Development
Tel: 020 7608 5262
Email: terrir@fpa.org.uk

What young people say

We ask young people to tell us how their Sleepin' Safe, Sexin' Safe session helped them.

“It let me know how I want my relationships.”
16 year old participant

“I am a young sexually active person and it is good to know the risks associated with sex.”
22 year old participant

“You don't realise how much you don't know.”
20 year old participant

“I needed advice.”
17 year old participant

“It was good because you can talk about stuff you would normally avoid.”
16 year old participant

We also ask them to tell us the most interesting or important thing they learned.

“Models are airbrushed to make themselves look a lot better.”
17 year old participant

“You don't have to put up with domestic violence.”
18 year old participant

“Talking about different sexuality.”
24 year old participant

“Hearing the different views from lads as well as lasses about pregnancy and abortion.”
17 year old participant

“Different types of contraception – positives and negatives of each.”
18 year old participant