SHPEP Future
A comprehensive, independent evaluation of Bread's Sexual Health Peer Education Project (SHPEP) reached the following learning points and recommendations for the future:
- Some difficulties of gaining access to schools were experienced. Different approaches to developing partnerships are required
- Despite great awareness and efforts to reduce imbalances, the group of peer educators comprised mainly white young women
- The lack of continuity of funding results in the loss of services to young people as well as the loss of skilled peer educators
The following recommendations are being considered in SHPEP's future development:
- That single gender work be developed so that young women and men can feel safe to raise and explore some of the restricting myths, stereotypes and pressures that prevent effective sexual health learning
- That consideration be given to developing work with more vulnerable groups of young people, such as those with learning difficulties, disabled young people and other marginalised groups
- That the current model of experienced peer educators providing training to newer members be developed into the provision of specialist/identity based peer education training and project delivery, such as those that are BME/culturally specific and those specifically by and for disabled young people and for those defined be geography
- That the diversity of youth workers and peer educators be considered in the context of the diversity of the young people that SHPEP serves
- That funding be sought from a single funding body for a minimum period of 3 years. This will allow simpler accountability and time for peer educators to be recruited, trained and deliver the SHPEP programme
Please note that the Sexual Health Peer Education Project (SHPEP) is not currently active. We are seeking continuation funding.