I joined SHPEP two years ago after receiving a leaflet from my local young people’s forum. I had no idea what I’d let myself in for but it has been a very successful experience and I feel like I have encouraged many young people to consider issues surrounding sex. Two very friendly and enthusiastic youth workers lead SHPEP. They do everything from training new peer educators to taking us on ‘holiday’ and providing us with support.
When I first joined the project I began a ten-week training programme, which introduced me to sexual health issues and gave me the skills to hold a workshop. Although it was hard work it was brilliant fun and included games like ‘Condom in the Dark’ and ‘Choose your Perfect Partner’. As a group we decided that basic training on drugs issues would also be useful. So once I had completed my training and was loaded up with leaflets and information on topics from contraception to STI’s and cocaine to poppers, I was ready to do my first workshop.
It was a Tuesday night and the taxi pulled up outside my house. I got into the Taxi and joined Sophie, who was sat looking very nervous. It was also her first workshop. We drove out to the suburbs of Bristol to a youth group called The Clock Tower. The building appeared dark and gloomy and the area seemed neglected. As Sophie and I walked towards the door, conversation was minimal but we both knew how each other felt; scared, excited, and frantic. At the door a young woman with dark curl hair who was apparently the group leader welcomed us. My nerves were mounting and my hands had began to shake but I was determined to smile and look confident, after all they didn’t know I was new.
I walked through the door, I took a deep breath and I was presented with twenty young girls. The girls were discussing how ‘they won’t touch us again’ presumably commenting on a recent fight. My heart sank; I no longer felt that I had the knowledge and skills to hold a workshop.
Eventually my youth worker, Julia arrived and gradually my anxiety disappeared and things brightened up. My first impression of the girls changed as I started the workshop, they began to calm down and listened to what we had to say. It was brilliant, as I finished the workshop I realised I had influenced the attitudes and behaviours of other teenagers and created a better understanding of sexual well-being. I was no longer an inexperienced peer educator because I had completed my first sexual health workshop.
As I’ve completed more talks I have increased my confidence and despite comment like ‘What do they know?’, I have led many fun and knowledgeable workshops. They’ve included talks in my own GSCE Health and Social Class, a stall at Ashton Court Festival and demonstrations ion a local youth bus.
As a reward for our ‘hard work’ we often go on residentials or trips. My first residential took us to a picturesque cottage in Croyde Bay, Devon where we enjoyed the social atmosphere of barbeques and beach games and did extra drugs training. Recently I went to Weston-Super-Mare here we stayed in a large Sea-front hotel. In the day we organized the future workshops and in the evenings we went bowling and walked along the beach. We are already planning our next residential, we are hoping to go Swansea in the Easter break to socialize with our new peer educators.
During my last two years as a peer educator I’ve had very positive feedback from all the young people I’ve held workshops with and I feel that per education is the most rewarding hobby because I can have fun at the same time as helping young people.
