It was decided in 2005 to develop and enlarge the Alternatives Education Team so that Alternatives would have the ability to deliver a range of relationship and sex education. (Most agencies call it sex and relationship education, SRE) It is our aim to go into schools and youth clubs to encourage young people to make informed choices about their relationships and sexual health.

Research carried out in 2002, showed that 60% of boys and 80% of girls regretted the first time they had sex. In Britain we have the highest rates of STIs and teen pregnancy in northern Europe. The conflicting pressures of family, peer groups, media, society at large and emotional needs of young people, work to confuse and influence them into taking actions that they may later on regret.

Recent Government research has also shown that SRE in schools can help young people to delay the age at which they begin to be sexually active. By delivering high quality SRE in Schools we aim to help cut the numbers of unplanned pregnancies and the transmission rates of STIs. More importantly we seek to give young people the confidence and dignity to make their own decisions based on sound information and realising that they are whole people, that when going into relationships they need to be true to their own beliefs and feelings, and not be pressured by the society they live in to behave in a way that denies what they really want .

Mission Statement

It is the aim of the Alternatives Education Team, to deliver high quality, differentiated, SRE that values each student as an individual and understands that Newham's young people come from diverse places of ability, experience, belief and culture.

The sessions we are able to deliver include; Self esteem, Relationships, Contraception; STIs; HIV and AIDS; Unplanned pregnancy prevention and the options if it happens.

The team is co-ordinated by Jo Sell, who is an experienced teacher, and community worker.

As well as working in schools, the Education team is also involved in various sexual health forums, both locally and nationally. The team often work alongside other statutory and voluntary agencies in the field and are at present developing materials for use in schools that are faith sensitive.
Alternatives is comfortable working in a secular or faith setting and is happy to make each session relevant to the group involved.
Alternatives could work with you to develop a course that you (and your faith leaders) would think is appropriate for your young people, using visual and interactive materials to help them think through these issues.

What is available?

Interactive sessions lasting around and hour with further discussion if needed. These cover just one of the topics mentioned, with a lot of work and input from the group.

Audio visual presentations lasting 1hr 15 mins. These cover a number of topics in one session, with much less input from the young people.

Contact details

Alternatives: 020 7476 8215. Leave a message for Jo if she is not there.

Email: jo.sell@altel.org.uk