Outspoken gets parents talking openly with their children about sex and relationships. Our interactive website, informative newsletter and topical, inspiring live events give parents the language, knowledge, skills and confidence they say they need. We are developing a resource like no other before: an interactive go-to website where parents can access information, get advice from experts, comment on their favourite approaches and consider other parents’ perspectives Why? Crises in young people’s mental health regularly make headlines. Pressures from the media, social media, the internet and porn are often held accountable for children’s negative body image, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. We think changing the conversation begins at home, but parents are the missing link in their children’s sex and relationships learning. Many of us didn’t have open communication with our parents or good sex education at school, and talking openly with our children doesn’t always come naturally. Together, co-Directors Leah Jewett and Sophie Manning are building on the academic research, comprehensive knowledge and decade-long teaching experience of RSE teacher and Outspoken founder Yoan Reed. All three of us are parents, with children ranging from toddlers to young adults. We want our children to be resilient critical thinkers in this digital age, and to help forge a society that is more equal, respectful and accepting of difference.
