The Girl "Sex" Guides??

Girl guides to 'get wise' about sex

Last updated at 12:28pm on 3rd January 2007

The Get Wise peer education scheme for 14 to 25-year-olds will cover issues such as teenage pregnancy, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases

Girl Guides are to teach each other about binge-drinking, eating disorders and sex.

The Get Wise peer education scheme for 14 to 25-year-olds will cover issues such as teenage pregnancy, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases.

Girlguiding UK said girls had chosen the topics themselves in an effort to help young women understand sensitive issues that are not handled well in school.

Denise King, chief executive of Girlguiding UK, said the programme aimed to help girls "at the most formative time of their personal and social development".

"We see it as our responsibility to give girls and young women the knowledge, experience and confidence to understand and manage the issues that face them today," she said.

About 100 new peer educators will be trained during 2007 to teach broad topics including eating disorders, stress management, and bullying.

Using role-playing and debate, the unit on sexual health will include the age of consent, abortion, adolescent pregnancy, contraception and sexual abuse.

Girlguiding UK said young women will be trained about "all angles and arguments" of the issues.

Organisers hope the Get Wise scheme will reach more than 2,000 girls and young women - including some outside the movement in schools and youth clubs.