Our Partners
We work with a wide array of partner organisations who offer a variety of sexual health services in the community. Read on below to find out more about some of these organisations and how to get involved.
Derbyshire Fly
The Derbyshire Fly project funded by the DCHS Community Action Fund aims to explore some of the barriers that young people face in accessing sexual health services. Working with 7 Derbyshire schools, a group of pupils in each school collaborates with an artist for two days to identify barriers pertinent to that group and develop some artwork that explores these issues.
Areas addressed so far have been accessibility of services (e.g. knowledge of location, times of clinics and digital access), clarification around confidentiality and inclusion, overcoming stigma about talking about sexual health, and understanding the broad range of support available - not just STIs and contraception!
The project, led by the Education Improvement Service, works closely with partners including the Family Health Service and YSHM. The art developed has been displayed in a number of locations for different audiences, including the William Allitt School Hall for all year 9s as part of their relationships and sex education (RSE) lessons, Ripley Market Place, Amber Borough Council offices and Wheatbridge Clinic.
One strength of the project is that it is led by the young people, giving them a creative outlet to express what is most relevant to them. Art making is a very effective medium to create the safe space for pupils to relax, connect and discuss sensitive subjects more openly.
Going forward, the project has supported schools to identify ways to enhance their RSE curriculum to ensure young people are developing the knowledge, confidence and skills to access sexual health support whether from a trusted adult, a school nurse or a sexual health clinic.
For more information, please email cs.rse@derbyshire.gov.uk and check out further posts on Twitter @BERT_RSE #DerbyshireFly