Council leads partnership workshop to improve sexual health outcomes for young people 

Last week, Liverpool City Council joined forces with various city partners to host a workshop on 12 February aimed at enhancing the sexual health and wellbeing of young people in Liverpool. This gathering of key stakeholders represented a crucial move towards developing a new, cooperative action plan. The goal of this plan is to provide young people with reliable information and guidance, promote understanding of healthy and respectful relationships, and improve access to appropriate support services when needed.

While recent local statistics indicate a reduction in STI diagnoses among young people, it is important to note that these rates still exceed both the national and regional averages. Additionally, fewer young people are visiting clinics in person for advice, and there has been a rise in the use of emergency contraception and in the number of abortions, particularly repeat abortions, among this group. These trends underscore the necessity for a comprehensive, partnership-led strategy to equip young people with the knowledge, confidence, and resources they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health.

The workshop included professionals from a wide range of sectors, including local government, healthcare, education, youth services, academic institutions, and the voluntary and charitable sector. Together, they worked to develop practical, evidence-based approaches that will inform an ambitious new action plan focused on improving sexual health outcomes for young people throughout Liverpool. Melisa Campbell, Associate Director (Public Health) for Children, Young People and Health Improvement, emphasized the importance of this collaborative effort: “It is so important that we take a partnership and whole systems approach to improving the sexual health of our young people. It was fantastic to see so many stakeholders attend this workshop to focus on how we develop our action plan. We aim to shape positive and empowering messages to our young people and deliver high quality relationships and sex education (RSE) that builds knowledge and understanding of what makes a healthy relationship. By working collectively, we can equip young people with the tools they need to make safe choices and thrive.”

A key element of this initiative is ensuring that the voices and experiences of young people are central to the development process. Several surveys and focus groups have already been conducted, allowing young people to express their opinions on current services and contribute to shaping future provisions. James Woolgar, Advanced Public Health Practitioner (Sexual Health), reflected on the workshop’s success: “We were delighted to see so many stakeholders attend to work on this new action plan, it shows how committed everyone is to improving sexual health outcomes for young people. Recently we have seen reductions in STI rates in young people, and improvement in the number accepting highly effective long-acting contraceptive options. However, we know there is much more to do system-wide, and that we need to develop new and innovative ways of communicating, including apps and technology.” Engagement with young people will continue throughout the year to reinforce the co-design process and ensure the final action plan truly reflects their priorities and lived experiences

Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More