OUR WORK

We are currently at different stages of development with our five key projects.

  1. Training for front line practitioners to increase confidence, comfort and competency to address sex and relationship issues with their pregnant and postnatal clients.

  2. Online education and training for parents to increase their knowledge and confidence about SRE provision and develop age-relevant skills to communicate with their children.

  3. Community-style website for parents and health practitioners to share information and resources regarding sex and relationship health from pregnancy onwards.

  4. Advocacy for pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence.

  5. Funding of research relevant to sex and relationships in pregnancy.


Lecture Training

TRAINING

Interactive workshop for Front line Practitioners

Talking to clients about sexuality in pregnancy and beyond

Building professional comfort and confidence


WHY?

Practitioners have the unique opportunity and responsibility to assist couples in resolving sex-related difficulties or concerns, both psychological and physical, by making themselves more available. This may involve counseling a couple regarding fears and myths, suggesting ways in which clients can enjoy sexuality during pregnancy, recommending alternatives to intercourse, as well as reassuring them when problems arise.

The comfort and confidence of the practitioner in discussing sexuality with expectant parents will be reflected in the clients' ease of sharing important information or discussing personal issues.


PROGRESS

The next workshop will be on 27th November 2010 in Berkhamsted, South East Ebgland. from 10am - 1pm. Presented by Rachel Foux.

PDF icon Download workshop information

Next steps

We are seeking funding to offer this workshop nationwide to frontline practitioners.



COMMUNITY WEBSITE FOR PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS

Both parents and practitioners seek education and resources to answer questions and to dispel myths about sex and relationships during pregnancy.

Research indicates that a high percentage of clients do not feel confident to ask their practitioners about sexual health concerns during pregnancy, and frontline practitioners need reliable information sources to increase their confidence to engage with clients.

Through the development of a community website, our aim is to inform both parents and practitioners through a variety of media about sexuality in pregnancy, as well as to facilitate intercommunication between professionals and parents via forums. The long - term hope is that more professionals will talk to parents and vice-a-versa.

The website will be open to all parents, from pre-pregnancy to early parenthood, offering the following resources:

  1. Information and education about sex and relationships relevant to women, men and couples.

  2. Forum with specific topics and visiting experts.

  3. Resources directory, including practitioners who have been specifically trained in working with sex and relationships.

  4. 'Ask an Expert' section.

Practitioners will have an access to locked-down ‘extra’ resources which include:

  1. Listserve for discussion amongst peers and tutor support.

  2. Academic research and papers.

  3. Access to professional seminars with latest research.

  4. Interactive learning support (quiz-style) to increase confidence and comfort in discussing sex and relationships with clients.

Membership of the site is free to practitioners for the first year; thereafter it will be on annual subscription.


Next Steps

We are currently seeking funding to build this website



Couple at computer

EDUCATION

Online Sex Relationship Education (SRE) training for parents

Sex and relationship education in schools has been a much-debated subject in recent years. In 2011, the British government will implement new legislation, to introduce a curriculum of subjects relating to sex and relationships as a baseline requirement for all schools nationwide.

At ComeTogetherUK, we believe that parents and schools have the potential to enhance their children’s SRE as allies. Regardless of whether parents or teachers talk to young people or to each other about sex and relationships, it is clear that children are talking to each other about it. So to help them get on the right track, parents need to be able to answer questions about what children are learning, and to explain what positive relationships look like.

To help parents inform and influence their children’s behaviour now and in the future, we have designed an interactive six-module online education and support program. Our aims are:

  1. To enable parents to feel more confident in themselves and their parenting skills in order that they can talk more openly about sex and relationships.

  2. To encourage parents to take an active interest in their children’s SRE curriculum and teaching methods at school.

  3. To enhance parents' own sex and relationship education, in order to give accurate, age-relevant information to their children.

View this news article to gain more understanding.

Next Steps:

We are currently seeking parents to be part of a series of pilots for this project. Please contact Rachel.

We are seeking further funding to launch this project on line.



Depressed Pregnancy

ADVOCACY

Domestic Violence (DV) in pregnancy is a major public-health issue with serious consequences for maternal and infant health. Domestic violence often starts during pregnancy and women may also experience an increase in the extent and nature of physical abuse at this time. Domestic violence is also a key issue in maternal deaths. Women rarely voluntarily disclose their abusive experiences to health professionals but the use of routine antenatal enquiry questions is known to lead to a higher rate of disclosure. A majority of women are in favor of routine questioning if asked by a well-trained health professional.

Project Progress

ComeTogetherUK is currently evaluating the results of a 2003-4 project which investigated the effectiveness of implementing domestic violence training for midwives.

Our aim is to continue this research and further training for routine antenatal enquiry into domestic violence. For further information about this 2003/4 project and facts about domestic violence in pregnancy, please refer to this website


RESEARCH

ComeTogetherUK is currently seeking research proposals relating to sexual and relationship satisfaction during pregnancy.

We believe that more research should be conducted to identify what dimensions of a relationship help to achieve relationship satisfaction, especially during times when a couple’s relationship is vulnerable, such as pregnancy.

By understanding the adjustments a couple must make in order to have a successful transition into parenthood, front line practitioners can encourage couples to make the necessary changes in order to support their relationship to last.