The aims of the programme are: 1. To equip vulnerable young people with the skills and information needed to form stable and fulfilling relationships 2. To develop young people’s interpersonal skills including effective communication, joint decision making, negotiation and appreciation of diversity 3. To enable young people to enjoy sex and relationships based on qualities such as mutual respect, trust, and compromise 4. To empower young people to make well informed, healthy decisions about sexual health issues that affect them 5. To increase young people’s self esteem, foster respect for others, develop a sense of personal responsibility and value personal relationships 6. To make young people aware of the risks of sexual activity including STI’s and unplanned pregnancy 7. To provide young people with the support that they are entitled to in relation to SRE issues and to introduce them to practitioners from local sexual health services. 8. To provide a coordinated and multi-agency approach to addressing sexual health issues relating to young people 9. To explore the social, moral, legal and cultural aspects of sex and relationships The L.I.F.E programme targets vulnerable young people aged between 11 and 18, both male and female who are on the fringes of society and live in areas of high deprivation. We particularly target young people not in education, employment or training, those linked with Youth Offending Teams and Youth Inclusion Projects and those at risk of being excluded from school. In addition our target group will include young people from local estates and challenging schools already known to us through the partnerships we have made. Each session will begin with a light meal provided by FST. During the remaining time a variety of different activities will be used to engage the young people in discussion and learning on particular subjects. These include drama, role play, group activities and personal testimonies. We will be using relevant materials for example song lyrics, magazine articles, TV and film. Involved in the delivery of each individual session will be a local sexual health practitioner for example a mid-wife or sexual health nurse who would teach the young people about their area of expertise through a variety of methods including demonstration, discussion or hands-on activities. Sessions will end with the opportunity for participants to ask questions of the visiting practitioner and the FST team either within the group or confidentially. Our research showed current SRE provision in South London varies in quality and quantity, with a particular lack of training and support for at risk young people and young mums. Official figures show that Sexually Transmitted Infection rates in the UK have increased rapidly for example Chlamydia increased by 240% between 1995 and 2005. The UK rate of teenage pregnancy has fallen but still remains higher than any other country in Europe. High rates of teenage pregnancy have been a particular concern in Wandsworth where the rate is 40% higher than the national average. Over recent months their has been greatly increased media attention focusing on SRE and associated issues including programmes such as The Baby Borrowers and the Sex and Relationships Education Show which many young people have watched. Budget: 4 days development - £1250 6 days delivery with 4 paid staff - £2310 Food - £300 Admin - £300 Total - £4160