In a bid to raise sexual health awareness, the Sex Factor Ideas 2012 competition has been launched.
With London seeing the highest levels of sexual ill health of any city in the UK, the Social Research & Consultancy, MBARC has been commissioned by the London Sexual Health Programme to create Sex Factor Ideas 2012. This fantastic new initiative puts the power of change into the hands of the people at the heart of the matter whilst providing them a golden opportunity to launch their career in the creative industries.
Sex Factor Ideas 2012 is a cutting-edge competition for young Londoners to develop the best concept which encourages other young people to take responsibility for their own sexual health. This is an exciting competition where the entrants simply have to provide an idea of what they feel is the most effective way of bringing the message of sexual health awareness to the capital by using music, film, design, journalism, sport, or any other creative means, with the winning ideas becoming the official campaign.
It’s not only a fantastic way of promoting sexual health awareness and creating a healthier future for London, but it can also help channel a career in the creative industries. Six winners will have their ideas turned into actual products, with runners-up receiving internships in leading companies matched to their desired career pathway.
There are over 35,000 people living with HIV in London and a third of whom are not tested and do not know their HIV status. Our teenage pregnancy levels are among the highest in Western Europe and abortions, including repeat abortions, in all age groups are 25% higher than the English average. The Sex Factor Ideas 2012 aims to tackle these issues.
By pulling together the best elements of popular UK reality television shows that young people watch, Sex Factor Ideas 2012 will appeal to a wide range of the British public as the mix of X Factor talent spotting, the business world competitiveness of The Apprentice and a Dragons’ Den style finale combine to create an outstanding positive project and opportunity for London’s young people.
Rianna Raymond-Williams, an MBARC Sexual Health Ambassador said, ‘Poor sexual health is a real problem for young people in London and we are looking forward to seeing what great new ideas young people come up with in the competition.’
Entries are to be as innovative as possible and use creative ways of communicating messages about sexual health through art, media, music, journalism, IT, sport, performance, animation and more. All that is required to enter is that the concepts are in a video format which can be loaded online for other young people to see and vote for. The campaign needs to be based on one or more of the following themes:
Sexual health information/advice/guidance
Contraception and prevention
Pregnancy and Parenthood
Screening and testing
Anything else that is important to young people
The entrants will be divided into 6 different areas of London with the two best entries from each region going through to be judged by an expert panel. This panel will send 9 contestants out of the 12 to the final.
In a time of recession and funding cuts, social unrest and riots, Sex Factor Ideas 2012 is taking a step in the right direction to mending broken Britain with a spot of good old DIY.
The first stage of the competition runs until Friday 14th October 2011.
For more information on the Sex Factor Ideas 2010 and how to enter log on to http://www.youtube.com/sexfactorideas2012
By Rykesha Hudson
