Supporter love:
"Having witnessed first hand the discrepancies in language, acceptance and understanding of these issues through conversations with students around the UK, it's essential that we do more. This is a very important initiative. " – Adam Cunis, Crowdfunder supporter
"It is so vital for young people to have the knowledge and support they may not receive at home." – Tracey Ruck, Crowdfunder supporter
OUR STORY
2014 - OUR CAMPAIGNING BEGINS
In 2014, our founder Laura Coryton MBE started a petition to ‘End Tampon Tax’. Her petition gained over 300,000 signatures. Together, they changed UK law in 2021 and successfully lobbied the UK Government into launching the Tampon Tax Fund, through which nearly £100m has been donated to female-focused charities. Her campaign now supports a sister petition in every continent across the world.
Laura Coryton leading a protest in Downing Street in 2016
Founders Siân Green, Augusta Ivory-Peters and Laura Coryton in 2019 meeting to launch Sex Ed Matters
2019 - SEX ED MATTERS IS BORN
Sex Ed Matters was founded in response to launch of the new Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum, which we believe has the power to tackle many societal problems including violence against women and girls, period stigma and gender stereotypes. Our founding team included Julia Coryton, designer and creative expert, Siân Green, teacher with experience at Goldman Sacs, Dr Augusta Ivory-Peters, academic and charity expert with experience at Cancer Research UK and Laura Coryton, author and activist.
2019/20 - WORKSHPOPS LAUNCH
We utilised Siân's teaching experience, Gussie's academic knowledge and charity expertise, Julia's design expertise and Laura's campaigning tips, to launch and test our RSE workshops in schools across the country. We learnt that sex education is best delivered when taught through the lens of campaigning. Topics such as sexual harassment can feel overwhelming and scary, but when we discuss what students can actively do to tackle the problems they face and change the culture of their workplace or social group, they become excited and empowered. This approach has driven our work ever since.
Sex Ed Matters running one if its initial workshops
2020 - OUR GAME IS LAUNCHED!
We partnered with Outspoken Sex Ed to create a sex ed card game, published by Routledge. This game aims to normalise conversations about consent and empower young people to speak up when they're curious or if something is wrong. It makes sex ed conversations accessible, which otherwise may be embarrassing or shroud with stigma!
2020/21 - RESOURCES DEVELOPED
We worked with teachers, students, parents, faith groups and accessibility organisations for years to develop our empowering sex ed resources. These aim to make conversations about periods, sexuality, gender, friendships and consent, welcoming, confidence-building and inspiring. You can check out our resources here.
2022 - WE WON OUR FIRST AWARD
We won Number 10 Downing Street's 'Points of Light Award' for our services to improving education for girls. This provided credibility both to our organisation and to the RSE sector as a whole. In our letter from Downing Street, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: "‘Sex Ed Matters’ is bringing further equality by educating young people about the importance of healthy relationships and consent".IIIn
2023 - OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY BEGINS!
We partnered with leading academics at Oxford Brookes University, Dr Hannah Yelin and Dr Michele Paule, to create an anti-sexism campaigning course for girls. The course's aim is to boost the confidence of girls and help them tackle sexism when they experience it. You can sign up for our course here.
50 schools and youth groups across the country have signed up to our course. They've run campaigns including to make cheerleading an olympic sport and ban school uniform in pornography. They're doing amazing things!
50 s
Sex Ed Matters visiting students who are running amazing campaigns with the support of our course
2023 - WE CO-ORGANISED OUR FIRST DEBATE COMPETITION
For the first time, we sponsored an in-person sex ed themed debating competition, run by Debate Hub. Students debated many pressing topics relating to periods, sexuality, consent and friendships. The aim of this event was to normalise conversations around relationships and tackle sex ed taboos. The students absolutely loved it! We welcomed over 100 young people from across North London.
2023 - WE WON THE UKRI YOUNG INNOVATOR AWARD
For the first time, we won funding to expand our business. We won UKRI's 'Young Innovator Award'. With this, we gained a year of business mentorship, an allowance, a network of social entrepreneurs, and much more. It transformed our business for the better so we can make an even bigger impact.
Sex Ed Matters at the Young Innovators Award ceremony
2022/23 - WELCOME, OUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS!
We welcomed our Advisory Council, consisting of experts in many sectors including education, marketing, charities and intersectionality, and our Youth Advisory Board. They help ensure our work is as impactful as possible.
2024 - WE WON UKRI'S UNLOCKING POTENTIAL AWARD!
We won UKRI's £50,000 'Unlocking Potential Award' to develop 'Your Voice Matters', an anonymous surveying platform upon which schools can identify the safeguarding problems their students face, and measure the impact of the strategies they implement to tackle these issues. This platform will be ready in early 2025! Keep your eyes peeled. We can't wait to share it with as many schools as possible.
A screenshot of the platform in its Beta version
There's so much more to come...