If you're a parent, teacher, youth leader or carer you may be wondering what the Romance Academy is all about... if so, read on:

The Vale Romance Academy is affiliated to a national organisation that equips youth workers with the resources to run Romance Academies with young people in their area. The youth workers leading the academy are trained and police checked to work with young people.

We believe that sexual activity and intimacy needs to be seen in the wider context of relationships - the stronger the relationship, the more value is placed on sex as it becomes part of the language of love and intimacy.

We believe that young people need to be given the opportunity in a safe environment to:

•  discover information about sex and relationships

•  explore beforehand the consequences of making certain decisions about their sexual health

•  discover and boost their self confidence

•  know where they stand on issues to do with sex and relationships

•  grow in confidence in making decisions that support their values

The young people who join a Romance Academy for fifteen weeks are committing themselves to being part of a positive peer group that look honestly at issues to do with sex and relationships. No young person will be asked to leave an academy because they have engaged in sexual activity - the aim is not to turn the group into monks and nuns! On the other hand, we're not assuming that all young people of this age are having sex, and we certainly won't be encouraging them to start.

It is our hope that they will all go on a journey of self-discovery and find themselves able to value themselves and each other more. A positive outcome of the academy will be the young people seeing the benefits of saving sexual activity for healthy and committed relationships.

The Romance Academy Leaders will not ask the young people for disclosures about their personal lives. They will however engage them in discussions and activities that will encourage them to challenge their attitudes and behaviour.

The welfare of the young people who take part in the academy is of the utmost importance to us. It is our aim that most of all they will enjoy the experience and learn valuable skills for life.

"We have discovered how issues of sexual intimacy and identity act as a tipping point or 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 the safe space and arena for assessing, challenging and living out new ideas and attitudes and ultimately developing values and skills that they take into the whole of their life"

Quote from a previous Romance Academy Leader