St. Valentine’s Day Charity Ball

 The St. Valentine’s Day Charity Ball took place at Knebworth House on Saturday 13th February 2010. In the sumptuous setting of the Lodge and Manor Barns the evening began with a drinks reception at which every lady was presented with a red rose, followed by a delicious 3 course dinner.

 This was the biggest fundraising event Herts Aid has put together for a while, and we were delighted that many of our Patrons were able to attend. After dinner our celebrity auctioneers Richard Arnold and Kacey Ainsworth thoroughly entertained everyone, whilst enticing them to part with their money during the main Auction. The evening continued with dancing to the “Andy Mawbey Orchestra” during which the winners of the grand prize draw, and the remaining Silent Auction prizes were announced.

Herts Aid would like to thank everyone who supported this event, either by attending the Ball, by buying/selling raffle tickets, or offering sponsorship or their services.

 he evening was a huge success raising much-needed funds exceeding £9000.00, which is a fantastic amount!

 

 

 

SCREAM Launch

 Thursday 11th February 2010 saw the official launch of Herts Aid’s SCREAM (Sex, Contraception, Relationships, Education And Mentoring) Project in Stevenage. It was held at the Thomas Alleyne School and officially opened by The Right Honourable Martha Lytton Cobbold, Patron of Herts Aid and owner of Knebworth House.

 Key figures from the PBC (Practice Based Commissioning) and Stevenage Schools came together to celebrate this innovative and exciting venture.

Herts Aid’s Lindsey Marks, Young Person’s Outreach Worker and Emma McLaven, Health Trainer, shared a short presentation on the project’s objectives and outcomes thus far. There was also a chance to hear from Peer Educators currently undergoing training as part of the project.

 The aspects of the project and work already undertaken by young people were displayed and acted as a base for discussion with Herts Aid staff.

 The evening was a great success and a fantastic opportunity for schools and professionals to network, share good practice and experiences and to discuss expectations and moving forward.

 

 

 

BRAND NEW SERVICE!

       The Hertfordshire Sexual Health Strategy has identified Stevenage as a hot spot for teenage pregnancy (under 18s) and Chlamydia infection.  Around 42% of teenage conception leads to a termination.  Infectious risks to sexual health are most prominent in the 16-44 age group with over 90% of all reported new diagnoses from GUM clinics in this category.  The East of England has a total population of around 5.5 million people, with 2.2 million aged between 16 and 44.  In 2004 there were more than 184,000 attendances at GUM clinics, 30% more than in 1999.  Of the workload codes, the most common activities are sexual health screening and HIV testing and counselling, which together account for two thirds of the workload. Nearly 5,000 new diagnoses of uncomplicated Chlamydia infection were recorded in females in 2004.  Rates are highest in the 15-19 and 20-24 age groups.

     Stevenage Locality Cluster Group (SLCG) reviewed the public health reports produced by the PCT and identified reducing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, particularly targeting 15 -24 year olds as a high priority in its 2008/09 Commissioning Plan.  Stevenage rates for teenage conception have been reduced from 52.4% in 2001-03.  Stevenage (at 36.9 per 1,000) still has a higher under 18 conception rate than the county average (26.6 per 1,000).   The Locality believes achievement of reducing teenage conception and improving sexual health services in the community are best delivered by working in partnership with all stakeholders, including the borough council, education bodies, family planning services and the voluntary sector.   

It has therefore been agreed that a holistic sexual health and conception service will be established, provided by Herts Aid, initially for a 3-year contract. We will be providing the following cohesive and interlinking services:

·             Theatre in education project: Four professional actors take on the role of 15 year olds, present a short scenario where the choices they make will take them into situations where they place themselves at risk.  This could be due to peer pressure, bullying, drugs and alcohol influencing sexual behaviour resulting in dangerous behaviour and communication breakdowns.  The play stops at a crisis point with each character finding themselves in a potentially life changing situation. The forum theatre then begins.  The audience becomes involved and are split into four groups, with each group assigned a character to work with.  Students are told that from now on, they are to control the characters actions, words and decisions, in order to explore the situation and outcomes.  This “rehearsal for life” allows young people to try out different options in a safe environment where the consequences are “real” but not detrimental to them personally. 

·             I-text : Herts Aid secured a grant from the Youth Opportunities Fund to set up and run an I-text service which was launched across Hertfordshire in January 2008. I-text is a messaging service to enable students to seek information and advice on a range of issues including contraception and sexual health, in an anonymous, confidential way that young people feel comfortable with. Research has found young people may not seek advice if they have to “see” or “speak” to someone.The i-text service will be actively promoted alongside the theatre production as part of the wrap around support.

·             Young Person’s Outreach Worker Post to establish peer mentoring in Stevenage: In addition to the Theatre in Education and I-text service, the Locality is providing funding for Herts Aid to establish a dedicated service for young people in Stevenage to meet specified guidelines from nationally identified targets and outcomes from ‘Every Child Matters’, Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, National Chlamydia Screening Programme and Local Strategic Partnership.  This will include delivering programmes of care in a friendly environment and provide dedicated resources to liaise with local government, school nurses, health visitors, GUM clinics, Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Group and other established networks.  Currently this level of liaison does not exist.  To deliver this liaison role  Herts Aid will employ a Young Person’s Outreach Worker and a health trainer.The Health trainer's role includes training volunteer 14-16 year olds to provide peer learning to fellow students.  Peer learning enables students to participate in a wider role within the school community and will have a specific health focus.  This role will enable the mentor to dispel misinformation, give accurate information and signpost or refer onto local services such as the I-text service.  The Health trainer will train 5 peer mentors per year group in each school and mentoring support will be provided by the Young Person's Outreach worker.  For peer mentoring to be successful, sustainability is an essential component and requires dedicated time to support the peer mentors. These peer mentors, in turn, could either mentor their own year group or 1-2 years below.  The Young Person’s Outreach worker will establish and maintain close contact with the mentors, providing both individual and group support to enable mentors to support each other. 

·             Specialised community based sexual health services in Stevenage called ‘Clinic in a Box’ sessions: Within 6 months of rest of this project being established, 2 community based sexual health and conception service clinics will be established for 14-25 year olds. These will provide STI screening, contraceptive services, Pregnancy testing and referrals for terminations.

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World AIDS Day Conference 1st December 2008  
                      

On December 1st 2008 the two HIV/AIDS support charities in Hertfordshire, The Crescent and Herts Aid, jointly hosted a conference at The Fielder Centre, Hatfield, to mark World Aids Day 2008.

The conference was attended by nearly 100 people including delegates from Hertfordshire Constabulary, Children Schools & Families, Herts County Council, and Social Services, as well as delegates from other HIV support organisations in neighbouring counties. Speakers included:

Dr Sasikala Rajamanoharan, Consultant Physician in GUM/HIV
Roy Brazington, Mental Health HIV Nurse Specialist
Robert Fieldhouse, Body Positive North West

They were followed by four HIV positive clients who bravely told how they lived with HIV and the impact it had had on their lives. Their emotional, heartfelt stories were the talking point of the day and gave a glimpse into the stigma and discrimination many positive people live with, together with stories of hope and the strength of human spirit.