Youth centres can provide a successful setting to support young people into making healthy decisions about sex and relationships, according to research by the Institute for Employment Studies (IES). In a pilot initiative, four youth workers, or health 'leads', were tasked with promoting health and wellbeing at four youth centres, each differing widely in terms of membership and existing health and wellbeing provision.
As well as sex and relationships, the project addressed emotional health and wellbeing, drugs, alcohol and tobacco, physical activity and healthy eating. Central to the project was an approach that considered a person's wellbeing as a whole, rather than as a set of unrelated and separate elements. This helped ensure that factors that can compromise good decision making about sex, such as alcohol or low self-esteem, were properly addressed.
The health leads were given specialist training in communicating and influencing skills and also provided with opportunities to update their health knowledge..The leads built a programme of activities at their youth centres, ranging from interactive sessions for small groups to large events. The leads also improved access to health and wellbeing information at the centres and let members know they were available to discuss any wellbeing-related concerns.
The project capitalised on what youth centres have to offer as a setting, most of all their informality and sociability. Young people described their youth centre as "friendly", "fun", a place with "a positive atmosphere" where "it's hard to get bored"; arguably very different to the descriptions they might have applied to their school.
The age of the leads seemed to be a key reason for the young people's willingness to discuss their health concerns. Young people described them as "role models" and leads were seen as sources of advice on issues ranging from personal and social problems to difficult homework.
Building on the rapport they had already had with members, the leads felt they had been able to make a significant impact on issues about sex and relationships, especially through working with young people on a one-to-one basis. Because the leads were seen as a source of information on many subjects, young people felt comfortable approaching them, without their peers assuming they were seeking information about sexual health or personal topics.
The leads felt they had been able to help their centres respond to emerging local issues that might otherwise have been overlooked. For example, as a result of the pilot, the sexual exploitation of young women was identified as an issue and addressed in one of the youth centres. That centre held a workshop led by an external stakeholder to promote self-esteem among young female members and to explore their thoughts about what having a healthy relationship means.
Youth centre events were used imaginatively to promote health issues. A rave attended by more than 250 older youth club members was used as an opportunity to provide information about safer sex and offer tests for sexually transmitted infections. Relevant calendar events were also used as opportunities to raise awareness of sexual health-related topics. To coincide with International Women's Day, an event discussed sexual health issues as well as careers, beauty and fashion. The female-only environment enabled more open discussion of sex and relationship concerns.
IES's research showed that the pilot made a tangible difference to young people's access to advice and information. The leads believed young people were better informed as a result of the pilot and their colleagues reported a positive shift in culture at all youth centres. The research also highlighted the ability of the leads to reach young members who are not engaging with their school environment, arguably those who are most at risk.
The success of the pilot reveals that the school is not the only place to deliver health interventions and that more informal settings can work well, especially for sex and relationships guidance. However, youth centre based interventions depend on support from health professionals and other local organisations. A challenge for the future will be ensuring that local government cuts and changes in the way public health services are organised do not limit access to health-related services in environments where young people feel at ease.
Sally Wilson is a research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies
