Media - 2007 press releases

NATIONAL AIDS TRUST HELPS TEACHERS COMBAT RISING IGNORANCE WITH NEW 'HIV IN SCHOOLS' PACK

The National AIDS Trust has launched its 'HIV in Schools' Pack 2007 in response to growing concerns that there are high levels of ignorance and complacency about HIV among young people.

A recent BBC survey found:

• Over a quarter (26%) of 16 to 24 year olds do not feel informed about HIV and the issues surrounding its transmission and prevention
• Eighty-nine per cent of 16 to 24 year olds rarely or never think about HIV when making decisions about their sex lives

Yet more than two thousand people aged 16 to 24 are living with HIV in the UK and more than 20,000 young people have family who are HIV-positive.

The 'HIV in Schools' pack was first launched last year and proved to be hugely popular with over 1,200 schools requesting the pack and 11,000 copies being downloaded online. This year the new and updated pack is available free of charge to all secondary schools in the UK.

The 'HIV in Schools' Pack contains suggestions on how to integrate HIV into the national curriculum in different subjects within key stages three and four. It includes a range of HIV fact sheets together with lesson plans for subjects including SRE, geography, citizenship, ICT, science, drama and also gives ideas for holding World AIDS Day and HIV awareness assemblies.

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of the National AIDS Trust comments:
"It can be difficult to know how to approach HIV in the classroom - some students may be HIV positive and many have misunderstandings. The 'HIV in Schools' Pack aims to make it simple for every teacher to formulate lessons which increase awareness and understanding of HIV and be confident when discussing HIV in their classroom."

Feedback from schools using last year's pack includes:

• "Key informative resource - easy to use. Excellent."
• "It was a very useful addition to supplement my existing lesson plans."
• "We used [the schools pack] extensively in our Citizenship/PSHE lessons."
• "Brilliant, really well produced pack."

To request or download the 'HIV in Schools' Pack teachers should visit http://www.worldaidsday.org/help_schools.asp.

This year students can also get involved in World AIDS Day activities online by submitting video or audio clips about how HIV affects their lives for inclusion on the World AIDS Day website (www.worldaidsday.org) or YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/worldaidsday2007). Teachers or students wishing to submit clips should contact info@nat.org.uk for further information.

Notes to the Editor:

The National AIDS Trust (NAT) is the UK's leading independent policy and campaigning voice on HIV and AIDS. It aims to prevent the spread of HIV, encourage early diagnosis, ensure people living with HIV have access to treatment and care, and eradicate HIV-related stigma and discrimination.