‘EVERY’ campaign focuses on teen relationships

Friday January 22nd 2016

At the EVERY launch in Antrim are, from left: Jill Hamilton, Connor Children’s Officer; Karen Webb, North Belfast Centre of Mission; Judith Cairns, CEO, Love for Life; Trevor Douglas, Diocesan Development Officer; Christina Baillie, Connor Youth Officer and Graham Hare, General Manager, Love for Life.

Clergy and youth leaders who attended the launch of the EVERY campaign in Antrim on January 19 were presented with some shocking statistics regarding teenagers and relationships.

The EVERY campaign was launched by Love for Life in partnership with Engage Connor Youth and Ripple Childrens’ Ministry.

The campaign is a response to a changing culture, with teenagers growing up in a sexual landscape which presents them with a confusing range of voices and opinions.

EVERY offers resources to help clergy and parish teams engage with the important conversations about relationships and sex.

Judith Cairns, CEO, Love for Life, speaks at the launch in Connor Diocese.

Judith Cairns and Graham Hare introduced the campaign at the Connor launch in Antrim Parish Centre. Among the statistics highlighted are:

90% of young people feel under pressure to have sex
1 in 3 teenagers in Northern Ireland have sent or received an indecent image on their mobile phone
29% of 15-year-old boys access pornography every day.

Those who attended the campaign launch heard that the Church has an important role to play. For further information about the campaign, visit www.loveforlife.org.uk.

The Rev Simon Genoe, Jill Hamilton, Sarah Gamble and Karen Webb at the EVERT launch.

The Rev Simon Genoe, Jill Hamilton, Sarah Gamble and Karen Webb at the EVERY launch.

Concentrating on statistics – Diocesan Youth Officer Christina Baillie, pioneer evangelist Stephen Whitten and Chris Neilands, youth worker, St Paul’s, Lisburn.