Joanna Melville
What does Sexpression:UK do?
Sexpression:UK is a national volunteer-led charity which provides inclusive, comprehensive relationships and sex education in local communities, as well as advocacy and campaigning work. We facilitate lessons on topics including body image and the media, relationships and abuse, consent, STIs, safer sex and contraception, puberty and bodily changes, and sexual orientation and gender identity. We currently have 27 branches across the UK.
How did you first come to volunteer with Sexpression:UK and what is your current role?
I first started as a volunteer with Sexpression in the Manchester branch, and have been volunteering with the charity for 6 years; both committee roles and ‘on the ground’ volunteering. I’ve been on committees for the Manchester, Oxford and Warwick branches, including being president of Manchester Sexpression. In 2018, I became the Finance Director on the National Committee, before moving to become the National Externals and Press Director. Finally, last year I became the charity’s National Director, overseeing the running of the charity; so far this year, 584 volunteers have taught nearly 9,000 sessions with young people across the UK.
What do you enjoy most about being part of Sexpression:UK?
The best thing about being involved in Sexpression is just how much fun it is! The work is hugely rewarding and makes a massive difference to the young people we work with, but it’s also endless fun. I’ve made lifelong friendships with people across the UK that I otherwise wouldn’t have met, and had incredible experiences that I otherwise would never have had the opportunity to do.
Can you tell us more about some of the projects or campaigns you have worked on?
I’ve been involved in countless projects and campaigns with Sexpression, including providing STD testing to university students. Last year, we campaigned for statutory relationships and sex education to be fully inclusive of people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and abilities. Being on the National Committee has also meant I’ve attended amazing events such as being invited to the launch of World Health Organisation self-care guidelines on sexual and reproductive health. We also sit on the BASHH (British Association for Sexual Health and HIV) public panel, and I also personally sit on a NIHR advisory panel for sexual and reproductive health research.
Is there a project or campaign that you have been most proud of?
I think the project I am most proud of is our recent advocacy campaign, aimed at teachers and youth group leaders. Consulting with teachers, we realized they were pressed for time, and finding accessible LGBTQ+ information to make classrooms more inclusive could be a challenge. We therefore created a dictionary to help teachers become more familiar with LGBTQ+ terms and acronyms, as well as printable graphics of famous LGBTQ+ people and their biographies. By incorporating these individuals and their achievements into lessons, or creating displays around the school, we hope young people will understand the huge impact that the LGBTQ+ community has had across all areas of life, as well as fostering an inclusive environment for all young people.