All The Latest News on SOS & Sexual Health Initiatives
SOS move to the Innovation Centre, University of Exeter, January 2010. |
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We are now part of the Innovation Centre’s community of businesses! Our new prestigious University address is set in 300 acres of the best views of Exeter city. As part of SOS expansion, our new office is based within the new Innovation suite which is affiliated with the University’s business school young Entrepreneur programme. Our team is now able to host events and provide training on site from this year. The Innovation Centre hosts the diverse needs of high growth, knowledge based enterprises on approval by the university. Being based at the Innovation Centre means that our expanding team will be able to host events and provide training on site from this year, in addition to providing statistical analysis and cognitive behavioural reports to educational establishments, statutory authorities and blue light agencies.
“We are delighted to have SOS Global at the Innovation Centre. They are a very dynamic bunch of people and all for a very good cause. Hopefully this is an opportunity for the company, the Centre, the University and its students to engage in their health awareness projects”. Robin Jackson, Innovation Centre Director.
“Being the chair of the Devon Men’s Health Forum and having established Exeter’s first Youth Health Forum, we are look forward to having a presence both at the centre and with the University” comments Dawn.
Exeter to get first youth health forum |
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Exeter youth are due to have their first ever Youth Health forum next week as Devon County Council embark on a public consultation of teenage pregnancies and young people’s sexual health, as part of its scrutiny review. The review, carried out by a special task group of the Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Committee, will examine the levels of teenage pregnancy and young people’s incidences of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Devon due to an embarrassingly high rate of teenage pregnancy rate in Exeter, compared to other counties in the UK.
As key service providers in this area, youth health awareness enterprise, SOS Global are being supported by the Local Involvement Network (LINk) in Devon to engage with the Scrutiny committee and report on issues particular to Devon’s youth.
SOS founder Dawn Dines said:
“SOS Global have championed this partnership to deliver initiatives concerning teenage pregnancy, binge drinking and sexual health awareness campaigns, for over 13’s in the area. The project aims to significantly raise the profile of public health awareness amongst secondary pupils across the county. Because SOS prides itself on creating healthy communities, it delivers effective practices to ensure sustainable legacies within its working practices. To ensure this is achievable we encourage a joined up approach to service provision with our area partners. In order to support this work we are approaching schools we have already worked with, as well as others to nominate a youth representative to sit on a youth forum to discuss these issues.”
LINk Devon Exeter and East Devon community engagement worker, Caroline Lee added:
“LINk Devon has been set up to give communities a stronger voice in how their health and social care services are delivered. Our Community development initiatives help to strengthen people’s motivation and ability to work together to overcome disadvantages and achieve benefits for themselves and others, to make sure that people across Devon get the health and social services they need. Because the LINk seeks to work in this way, we can influence Primary Care Trusts and Local Authorities to embed community development in to the work they do to meet targets set out in the Local Area Agreement (the local planning framework for Local Authorities and their partners). We are therefore looking forward to making progress with addressing youth health issues in Exeter with SOS Global.”
The first forum meeting will take place this Friday 16th October at 5pm at St Sidwell’s Community centre, Exeter.
National Men’s Health Week 2010
The Kick-Off event for the National Men’s Health Week 2010 took place on Tuesday, 22 September at Chelsea Football Club. Chair of the Devon Men’s Health Forum, Dawn Dines, CEO SOS Global, unveiled results of the Devon’s first Men’s Health MOT in partnership with Ferrari. We have been working in partnership with health agencies and groups throughout the city to improve health awareness and services for men of all ages and backgrounds with support from the Department of Skills for Health.
“I’m a Leeds United fan but because the event was important to Devonian men’s health I accepted the invitation to Chelsea and even had a picture taken with the team!” Dawn Dines CEO, SOS Global
Addressing Teenage Pregnancy |
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Cllr Vanessa Newcombe is a city and county councillor, and as Chair of Children and Young People's Services Scrutiny Committee, is chairing a Task Group on teenage pregnancy and sexual health. Exeter has currently one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy. SOS have been asked to provide evidence to the committee as a part of this initiative and will provide current data and statistics gathered during their teenage pregnancy units in a variety of Devon Schools.
SOS leads the way with University of Bath
SOS activities address priority areas as identified by the Department of Health. In order to develop with sustainable improvement, we will evaluate our data against current trends using an inclusional approach. This will be achieved by developing a model with Dr Marian Naidoo, a visiting fellow at the University of Bath who provides the national lead for the arts and culture for inclusion and well being for the national social inclusion programme for the Department of Health. Her current work is with Arts organisations working within Health and Social care, on behalf of the Department of Health. We envisage, with Marion’s guidance a clear model for robust evaluation of our workshops will strengthen our service with partners and to communities.
Exeter University Student Guild
SOS is due to embark on all year around activity with Exeter University’s Student Guild, including peer mentoring, events and on site health MOT’s for students.
Youth Offenders link up with SOS
Having experienced a positive response from our work with Pony’s Inspiring People, we have been approached by Devon’s Youth Inclusion team to run AQA accredited citizenship workshops for youth offenders in the Torquay area.
All Together Healthier in Exeter |
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HUNDREDS of people poured into St Sidwell's Community Centre, Exeter, and its grounds for a special open day which aimed to promote healthy lifestyles and involvement with local communities. Officially opened by Exeter's Lord Mayor, Cllr John Winterbottom, it featured a wide range of interests from community agriculture, local policing, Age Concern, the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital Foundation Trust, CVS, and the city council. The event, the largest of its kind seen in the city, was co-hosted by SOS Global and LINk Devon which is a network of groups and individuals who work together to improve local services in the health and social care sector.
National Men’s Health Forum Conference
We have been invited to network at Chelsea Football Ground on 22nd September to report our findings following our Devon’s Men’s Health MOT, supported by the Department of Health and Social Care so to share best practice with other regions.
Devon Men’s Health Forum
We have also used our CVS networks to appeal for other relevant agencies to join the Forum and have been overwhelmed by positive responses from wide ranging groups.
Keeping South-West children safe
We were approached by Childline SouthWest to raise awareness amongst their volunteers in the areas of youth health. Having met with the team to discuss their initial need, a longer term project was is now underway. SOS will also identify key health providers and develop signposting to youth services, in the south-west area as well as provide learning and development workshops to both staff and volunteers.
Sparing teens’ blushes in Tower Hamlets |
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SEX education is a phrase that strikes dread into the hearts of parents and teenagers alike. Mums and dads often fear the embarrassment factor and teens hope all their parents have had to do with sex was their conception and nothing more. SOS interactive drama workshops are sparing everyone’s blushes as it tours schools in Tower Hamlets promoting safer sex, binge drinking and drink spiking.
Commissioned by the Metropolitan Police in the borough of Tower Hamlets, the roadshow, called SAFE sex drugs and rock n’ roll is the brainchild of SOS Global and presents the facts of life to secondary pupils and upwards in an engaging, no-nonsense way.
Sarah Thomas, Occupational Therapist and SOS Training Manager will be touring information
about local sexual health services to teens this month.
She explains: “The workshops are geared towards young people who might have missed out on
mainstream sex education, provides an opportunity to discuss issues, gives them information and
support about reducing risky behaviour and how to access local services.
“It’s about helping them to make their own informed choices and to raise awareness of these topics
within their peer groups as well. They are encouraged to not rush into a sexual relationship when
they may not be ready and shown how to access local services It is hoped the safer sex message,
when presented in a streetwise and relevant way, will continue to reach teenagers in a way more
formal literature cannot.
“A lot of the children had been saying they liked the fact it was coming from their perspective, they
find it very down‐to‐earth at the same time, which is a great way to keep them engaged, and a lot of
it is to do with the appropriate humour the show uses alongside the serious messages.
“Tackling issues such as the spread of sexually transmitted infections and the consequences of unprotected
sex, the workshop packs quite a punch, but aims to avoid patronising or preaching.
“We have used these methods because it’s a refreshing way of teaching sex education.
“The children seem to listen more and it helps them back up the information they get from lessons
at school and from the health organisation and the NHS.”
Enquires to : Anju Sarpal anju@sosglobal.org 01392 431837
SOS Global to be AQA assessor for new Dartmoor Pony project
SOS Global is pleased to be named as the official AQA award assessor in personal, social and health education for the “Ponies Inspiring People (PIP) project, based at Occombe Farm, Torbay. Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (DPHT), have recently launched a project to provide an opportunity for care providers across the South West to access equine based, interactive, life enriching,
educational and inspirational programmes for children and adults with physical and/or learning disabilities.
Judi Spiers from Radio Devon officially launched a facility for people with disabilities to gain new life skills through interaction with carefully trained Dartmoor ponies, based at Occombe Farm, Torbay, at an Open Day for all the family, on 14 June 2009.
Dominic Acland, Director of Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, which runs Occombe Farm, said: “Having this innovative project based at Occombe Farm is a great bonus for the community and adds another dimension to the whole farming and wildlife story that we are telling.”
Occombe Farm, an organic farm with a strong educational remit and a year round events programme, offers an excellent base for the project with its readily accessible location and existing good facilities for people with disabilities. The ponies will also be part of the farm’s conservation grazing scheme, helping to maintain wildlife areas in good condition and providing another interesting learning point for school groups and the wider public.
Michael Brown, Chairman of the Milne Trust said: “We are delighted to be involved with this wonderful project. It is yet another way in which our Trust can help people who live in the South West and have disabilities, to improve their lives.”
June Palmer, Head Teacher at Mayfield School, Torbay commented: “Mayfield School is excited to be a partner in the development of this project. Working closely with ponies will provide opportunities for our young people to develop new skills, thereby enriching their lives. The benefits of being with and caring for living creatures are well known. We look forward to seeing our pupils’ progress over the coming months.”
The whole project cannot happen without a dedicated volunteer team. The DPHT is urgently seeking volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, who feel they could comfortably work with ponies and disabled persons. Full training and equipment will be provided.
Enquires to : Anju Sarpal anju@sosglobal.org 01392 431837
Exeter Deaf pupils raise their voices |
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Health awareness provider SOS Global have presented certificates of achievement to pupils at the Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education, following an innovative pilot programme unique to Devon.
Over 40 pupils took part in an interactive workshop, addressing the relationship between alcohol awareness, sexual health and knife crime. The workshops are part of a programme supported by the Department of Health and is currently being rolled out to Secondary age pupils across Devon under the Citizenship school curriculum. Until now, there has been no provision
for young people with disabilities outside of mainstream education.
Enquires to : Anju Sarpal anju@sosglobal.org 01392 431837
New Men’s Health Forum for Devon
We are pleased to announce that the Department for Skills for Health and Department of Skills for Care are supporting us in this activity. Current forum members include PCT walk‐in centre, Chlamydia screening and regional Health Improvement Advisors. We have already facilitated a Men’s Health Fair in Exeter’s Bedford Square during National Men’s Health Week, during which SOS gathered over 400 views from men aged between 18 and 80, regarding their approaches to health and local services. Our key focus in the coming months will be to address rural health service provision.
We will be reporting our findings back to the Departments in January as part of their International Conference. Any groups that would like to give a view as a forum member or link to our activities please contact us as soon as possible.
Enquires to : Anju Sarpal anju@sosglobal.org 01392 431837
SOS named Young People’s representative of Devon health and social care group
Because we pride ourselves on creating healthy communities, we instil sustainable legacies within our working practices. To ensure this is achievable, we encourage a joined up approach to service provision with our area partners such as LiNK in order to share our findings, report on evaluations and report on feedback for the 18-25 age group for East Devon. As a consequence, we have been invited by the Devon LINk steering group to be the Young People’s representative for health and social care.
Enquires to : Anju Sarpal anju@sosglobal.org 01392 431837
15th June 2009 - SOS Global help bring Exeter’s men out from the cold
Current partners include Smartworld Ferrari, The Stroke Association, PCT walk-in centre, Chlamydia screening and Stretch and Sweat This year’s activity will coincide with the launch of a new Devon Men’s Health forum, which will give sustained support to this notoriously hard to reach group, in partnership with the Department for Skills for Health and Department of Skills for Care.
When : Sunday 21st June 11am – 3pm Where: Bedford Square, Exeter - Please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in attending.
Enquires to : Anju Sarpal anju@sosglobal.org 01392 431837