YouthNet launches online GUM clinic tour

7 February, 2008

According to a UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) survey of over 20,000 young people in England, only half (49%) knew where their local sexual health clinic was, and three quarters (73%) rated their school sex education as poor, very poor or average. 

In addition, statistics from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in November 2007 showed that in the UK, there were 376,508 diagnoses of new STIs in 2006, and young people aged 16 to 24 accounted for the majority of new cases.

Fiona Dawe, Chief Executive of YouthNet, says: "Sexual health is the second most popular discussion topic on TheSite.org, and through our discussion boards and askTheSite service, we know there is a lot of uncertainty about what sexual health screening involves.

"With the virtual tour young people can see for themselves what's behind the doors of a GUM clinic, hopefully dispelling the myths surrounding sexual health testing and encouraging more to get tested."

The virtual tour, filmed at the John Hunter Clinic at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, features interviews with sexual health nurses and covers what to expect from a visit. It is also accompanied by a searchable database of UK clinics.

To view the GUM virtual tour, the first in a series of videos to be hosted on TheSite.org visit www.thesite.org/audioandvideo

"People learn in different ways," adds Fiona, "So by offering this kind of video content, in addition to our text, audio and mobile services, young people can use resources most relevant to their situation, hopefully giving the message a wider reach." 

TheSite.org receives over 15,000 unique visitors a month on its safer sex advice section alone, and every month more than 100 sexual health questions are asked on TheSite.org's online advice service, askTheSite. TheSite.org also provides online support and advice for young people on health, drugs, home, law, money, work, relationships, study, travel and free time. 

ENDS

For further media information please contact Sarah Wilson at YouthNet on 020 7250 5716.  Email sarah.wilson@youthnet.org

Notes to editors

1. YouthNet is an online charity – founded by broadcaster Martyn Lewis in 1995. It aims to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams. YouthNet achieves this through two websites: www.TheSite.org – a one-stop-shop of advice and support for 16-24 year-olds and www.do-it.org.uk – volunteering made easy.
   
2. The John Hunter Clinic at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is part of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's wide range of HIV and sexual health services. For more information about the John Hunter Clinic and other services at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, please contact Matt Akid (Head of Communications) on 020 8846 6828 or at matthew.akid@chelwest.nhs.uk. Detailed information is available at http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/hiv-sexual-health/index.html
   
3. Sexual Health questions asked on TheSite.org's askTheSite service, are answered by specialists from Brook, the UK's leading provider of sexual health services and advice for young people under 25. The charity has more than 40 years' experience of working with young people and currently has a network of more than 50 services in 18 areas of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Jersey. Brook services provide free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and outreach and education work, reaching more than 200,000 young people every year. Brook also runs Ask Brook, a confidential helpline, online enquiry service and text information service, which is contacted by more than 20,000 young people a year. Young people can contact Brook free and in confidence on 0800 0185 023 or by online enquiry via Ask Brook at www.brook.org.uk