DfE research has indicated that the UK still experiences many challenges regarding stigma and taboo relating to periods. In addition, learner's feedback has shown that there was still a significant amount of stigma relating to periods and asking for products.

Barnet Council’s Positive About Periods aims to support children and young women throughout the Borough by raising awareness of period poverty to address the stigma and making it ok to talk about periods. Positive About Periods aims to enable all children and young people of school age to have stigma free access to free period products in school and at home without shame. As part of their efforts, Barnet Council will be holding a Positive About Periods Conference in July. The Positive About Periods Conference will be a culmination of awareness raising campaigns in the Borough and its schools. The conference will include PSHE sessions for schools to deliver and a logo competition. The conference will offer an opportunity to celebrate what’s been achieved and to plan for future action

Positive about Periods Conference:

• Date and time: 11 July 2023; 10.30 – 2pm
• Venue: Stone X Stadium

To reserve your place, please RSVP using this Eventbrite link.

If you have any questions, queries or would like more details on the Positive About Periods campaign or conference, please send an email to: kevin.lukau@barnet.gov.uk

Brook offers sexual health and wellbeing services across Barnet to young people and professionals.

We offer the following services:

• Relationships and sex education in schools and community settings
• One-to-one early intervention programmes with young people
• Health promotion stalls and events
• Peer education programmes
• Trainings for professionals
• C card training and drop-ins

Please contact barnet.education@brook.org.uk to make an enquiry.

Calling all teachers! Brook and Lil-Lets invite you and your students to their Big Period Lesson Live at 10am on Wednesday 1 March 2023. This broadcast is free to access and aimed at everyone in year 6 and 7.

Led by expert Brook educators, this lesson will support your students to:

• Define what puberty is and understand body changes
• Understand the correct names for parts of the internal reproductive organs
•  Understand key facts about periods and menstrual cycle – including the emotional and physical changes that people can experience
• Understand that periods, experiences and bodies are unique for each person
• Understand the range of products available and how to choose the right one for them
• Identify ways to help someone manage their own menstrual cycle or support others
• Know where to ask for help with questions about their bodies

It would be useful if the young people viewing the broadcast have access to a smart phone or personal device. They will be asking some questions on mentimeter.com and we would like as many people to take part as possible.
Register now!

Brook’s My Life  1-1 programmes are an early help intervention which aim to awaken and enhance young people’s motivation, knowledge  and skill to effectively assess and manage risk, build resilience and improve their own health and wellbeing.

Each programme follows a structure which enables the Brook specialist and the young person to work in partnership to create a bespoke programme which meets the needs of the young person. The sessions combine education on relevant relationships, sexual health and health and wellbeing topics and motivational and coaching activities all of which are selected from a toolkit of quality assured resources.  The My Life programme is a six week programme. The young person must agree to the referral and do not have to take part in the programme if they decide it is not for them.

To make a referral please follow this link

Sex Education Forum together with The Fostering Network have launched their new digital resource to help foster carers navigate relationships and sex education conversations.  
The guide conveys a ‘can do’ message from young people with care experience, and is steeped in practical tips and advice from foster carers.  
This new resource is free to download and will be relevant to foster carers, parents, social workers, virtual school heads, school nurses and educators.

Teaching about FGM is an important part of a school’s approach to safeguarding and child protection. To support schools that are teaching specifically about FGM at primary phase (beyond the protective factors developed through other contexts), the PSHE Association has developed new guidance and a lesson plan for upper key stage 2 (Year 5-6).

Guidance: The guidance is for teachers and PSHE leads teaching about FGM during the primary phase. It contextualises the issue and the relevant statutory requirements to help you consider how to include FGM within your curriculum at an age-appropriate level. Ensure you read the guidance before teaching the lesson.

Lesson Plan (PDF and PowerPoint versions available): For use with Year 5 or 6 pupils, the lesson plan and accompanying resources will help teachers to:

• explain what FGM is
• highlight to pupils the importance of reporting concerns around FGM (for themselves and others) and how to do this
• explore the issue in a sensitive and age-appropriate way — helping pupils to: identify myths and facts; engage in group and paired discussion; and recognise how FGM relates to the UN convention on the rights of the Child

Download Guidance & Lesson Plan