We have discovered how issues of sexual intimacy and identity act as a doorway for young people into all other areas of their lives. What they have gained from the project stretches beyond sexual health awareness. They have been given a safe space for exploring, challenging and trying out new ideas and attitudes and ultimately developing values and skills that they can take into the whole of their life. This approach focuses on developing young people’s character and emotional resilience.
We believe that an equal focus on building a positive peer community, encouraging self discovery, ensuring inspirational leadership and a comprehensive approach is essential in running a successful Academy.

POSITIVE PEER COMMUNITY: 97% of young people in Academies say they have benefitted from getting to know different people and hearing their views even if it means being challenged! The group quickly bonds to build a community where each feels supported to own their views and change their minds. We encourage the leaders to actively seek to draw young people from a variety of ethnic, social and economic backgrounds. We find that our academies are particularly successful in integrating young people from different backgrounds, cultures an value systems.

SELF DISCOVERY: Through a series of weekly group meetings and structured, practical education activities, the project focuses on nurturing self-discovery. Unlike traditional SRE lessons, the project is not a taught programme. 

INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP: We ask that leaders are fully committed to the values being presented and are passionate about their desire to see young people develop. 

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH: The material used in the Academies looks at the whole of life and relationships and is flexible to allow the young people to raise the issues they want talked about.