Success for Barnsley sexual health website launch event

An event held at the Alhambra shopping centre to launch the newly revamped sexual health information website - www.whatdoyouknow.org.uk -has been hailed a success by NHS Barnsley’s teenage sexual health co-ordinator, Richard Hart.

Richard said: “The event has been a fantastic vehicle to help promote and raise the awareness of the new website amongst younger people locally. Over 2,000 leaflets were handed out and many people stopped to talk about sexual health issues.”

The event was organised as part of NHS Barnsley’s whatdoyouknow.org campaign, which aims to increase the number of young people engaging with information for advice on sexual health services in Barnsley.

As part of the two day event over 300 young people shared their thoughts on sexual health through an on site VideoCube, ‘writing on the wall’ promotion and survey. Those who completed the survey were entered into a draw with the chance to win one of two iPod nanos.

Richard continues: “The more information we can gather about young people’s sexual health in Barnsley, the better services and support we will be able to provide in the future. Another opportunity to enter the survey competition can be found by logging onto the whatdoyouknow.org.uk website.”

Helping to promote the event were The Terrance Higgins Trust, who screened over 40 youngsters for Chlamydia. On the spot sexual health advice was also given alongside health professionals from NHS Barnsley.

In two weeks time footage from the VideoCube will be available online, accessible from the whatdoyouknow website. This will supplement a young person’s video guide to Barnsley Sexual Health services.