‘Sex Relationship Education’ (SRE) in Wales is changing from September 2022 to ‘Relationships and Sexuality Education’ (RSE). Brook Young People and Mencap Cymru want to hear from professionals who work with children and young people with a learning disability to find out more about how your school currently delivers sex and relationship education, how prepared you are for the changes to SRE, and what support you feel is needed.
Brook Young People and Mencap Cymru are working together to combine years of expertise in sexual health, well-being, relationships and support for children and young people with a learning disability.
Brook Young People has been at the forefront of providing wellbeing and sexual health support for young people for over 55 years. Our services in local communities, our education programmes, our training for professionals and our campaigning work means that young people are better equipped to make positive and healthy lifestyle choices.
Mencap is the leading voice of learning disability across the UK; committed to securing a world where people with a learning disability are valued equally, listened to and included. Mencap Cymru is experienced at supporting young people with a learning disability to develop the skills to navigate friendships and relationships, ultimately improving personal well-being. Mencap Cymru also chairs the cross-sector sexuality and relationships group in Wales aimed at empowering people with learning disability to have positive, healthy, informed and safe relationships.
What can you do?
We know that adults with a learning disability are disproportionately affected by loneliness and mental ill health, with little-to-no adequate sexual health education provided during their formative years, and with as few as 6% of the learning disability being in an intimate relationship, we have an opportunity to address some of these issues but we need to know what is required on the ground to gain a better understanding.
Therefore, we are calling on professionals working with children and young people with a learning disability to complete our anonymous survey by 11 December 2020. The results from this survey will then be shared with Welsh Government and help both Brook and Mencap Cymru to look at ways to support professionals working on the front line to deliver appropriate and effective relationships and sexuality education.
You can access and complete the survey here.
Please feel free to share this survey with colleagues both locally and across Wales.
For more information please contact: Kelly.harris@brook.org.uk or Sian.Davies@mencap.org.uk.
Kelly Harris, Brook Young People
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