2.03: (Ellen Taylor) - How do you get rid of a stigma?

06/13/23 • 50 min

This episode contains an in-depth interview with Ellen Taylor. Ellen is the Vice President and Community Relations Officer of the Secondary Students’ Union of Northern Ireland and chair of the Newry, Mourne and Down Youth Council. She is starring in season 2 of the CBBC sci-fi adventure series Silverpoint, and is currently studying her A-Levels.
During the interview Ellen reflects on school life during Covid-19; her involvement with the Secondary Students' Union of Northern Ireland; establishing a Feminist Society; producing a report into sexism and sexual harassment in schools; counselling services in schools; her experience of RSE and preferences on how it should be taught; the provision of information on sexual health services; social media and the influence of Andrew Tate; and her aspirations for sexual health, rights and education going forward.
Useful links
https://informingchoicesni.org/
https://ssuni.org/
Resources
SSUNI Sexual Harassment and Sexism Survey
News
DUP's Jim Wells criticised for response to teenager who used 'The North' in email
Period poverty: No free tampons in school 'adds stress to families'
Students tell of anger at cuts to NI education services
The Good Friday Agreement changed everything for Northern Ireland's young people - so teach them about it

Previous Episode

2.02: (Professor Dirk Schubotz) - Conducting sexual health research with young people

This episode contains an in-depth interview with Professor Dirk Schubotz. Dirk is a professor in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast and has conducted vast amounts of research in the areas of sexuality, sexual health, and gender. He is a member of ARK, Northern Ireland's Social Policy Hub, and has directed the annual Young Life and Times survey of 16-year-olds since 2003. He is also a Trustee of Common Youth.
Dirk reflects on growing up in East Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall; his background in youth work; attending the first Pride parade to take place in Belfast; producing the first large scale study into the sexual attitudes and experiences of young people in Northern Ireland; interacting with schools on conducting a survey regarding young people's views on homosexuality and abortion; young people's experiences of relationships and sexuality education (RSE); findings from the Young Life and Times Survey; working with the Belfast Youth Forum to produce their 'Any Use?' report on RSE; and his aspirations around sexual health in Northern Ireland going forward.
If you would like support around a sexual health issue you can call the Sexual Health Helpline on 028 9031 6100.
Useful links
https://informingchoicesni.org/
https://www.ark.ac.uk/ARK/yltResources
Any Use? report: Young people’s opinions on Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in Belfast
Sticks and Stones? Violence experiences of 16-year olds in Northern Ireland
Sexual risks and capacities: Developing a peer-led educational resource to address sexual risks among young people
Relationships and Sexuality Education and Homophobic and Transphobic Name Calling

Next Episode

2.04: (Yas Rodriguez) - A deafening roar of information

This episode features an in-depth interview with Yas Rodriguez. Yas was born and raised in Cuba, before moving to Northern Ireland in her 20's, and has now lived in Belfast for the past 25 years. She is a parent, and a teacher, and is involved in several local community campaigns.
During the interview Yas reflects upon her childhood in Cuba; the messages she received around sexual health and relationships; the process involved in establishing a new Code for Families; accessing sexual health services in Cuba; her experience of living in Northern Ireland, and the difference in attitudes around sex and relationships; her views on how RSE is taught in Northern Ireland; what issues the teaching of RSE raises for her as a parent; her views on how best to support parents to engage with their children around RSE; and her aspirations for sexual health, rights and education going forward.
Useful links
https://informingchoicesni.org/
News
Cuba Family Code: Country votes to legalise same-sex marriage