Leeds Public Health Invites Tenders for Youth Sexual Wellbeing Service

New programme aims to improve sexual health equity for young people

Leeds Public Health is seeking organisations to tender for a new service aimed at supporting the sexual wellbeing of young people across the city. The initiative, named “Well Wave Plus,” will extend the existing Well Wave Youth Sexual Wellness partnership to ensure equitable access to sexual health information and resources for young people aged 13 to 24.

Details of the tender opportunity

The contract is valued at up to £300,000 over a 36-month period. It is designed to engage local partners who have a positive approach to young people’s sexual health and who are embedded within communities facing health inequalities. The tender deadline is 12:00 on 20 May 2024.

Organisations interested in bidding are required to register via Leeds City Council’s procurement platform, Jaggaer, which manages the council’s sourcing and contract activities. Registration and full tender documents are available at the council’s eSourcing portal: Leeds City Council eSourcing Portal.

Vision and intended outcomes

The vision for Well Wave Plus is to ensure all young people in Leeds have access to the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to maintain or improve their sexual and reproductive health within a culture that promotes sexual rights. The programme is non-clinical but aims to contribute to the overall sexual health and wellbeing of young people, especially those who are seldom seen or most at risk.

Key objectives include:

• Increasing safe, trusted spaces for confidential and non-judgmental sexual health conversations, particularly for those unable or unwilling to access mainstream services.
• Reducing barriers to accessing condoms, lubricants, dams, pregnancy tests, and STI self-screening kits by addressing cost, stigma, embarrassment, and confidentiality concerns.
• Raising awareness about sexual health, contraception, preventative methods, vaccines, and treatments.
• Supporting young people to explore relationships positively and build skills to navigate challenges.
• Increasing awareness of risks associated with behaviours such as alcohol and drug misuse and signposting to appropriate support.
• Improving confidence and skills to negotiate safe and consensual relationships.
• Reducing stigma around seeking sexual health support, aligning with Fast Track Cities ambitions.
• Ensuring swift and appropriate signposting to specialist or clinical support to reduce health inequities.
• Providing young people with a safe person to support them through relationships and sexual health decisions.
• Supporting structural change by sharing insights to improve cultural competency within the youth and sexual health workforce.

Target populations

The service aims to reach a broad range of young people, including but not limited to:

• Those experiencing poverty and deprivation
• LGBTQ+ young people
• Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or neurodiversity
• Young people from migrant and racialised communities
• Those with lived experience of trauma or discrimination
• Young people not engaged in employment, education, or training
• Young parents and carers
• Care-experienced young people
• Young people involved with the criminal justice or social care systems
• Those living in areas without current Well Wave provision
• Young people who find it difficult to access physical, in-person services

Context and strategic alignment

The service will contribute to Leeds’ broader public health goals, including reducing unintended teenage pregnancies, lowering rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, and decreasing sexual harm, relationship abuse, and exploitation among young people.

This initiative also supports the city’s ambition to be the best place for children and young people to grow up, aligning with Child Friendly Leeds’ objective that young people have the support and information needed to make healthy choices.

About the procurement platform

Leeds City Council uses Jaggaer’s Source to Contract system for procurement and contract management. The platform enables suppliers to register their capabilities, receive notifications about new opportunities, and submit bids electronically. It aims to streamline procurement processes and enhance collaboration between suppliers and the council.

For more information or assistance with the tendering process, suppliers can contact the eSourcing Help Desk via the Leeds City Council procurement homepage.

Source: Doing Good Leeds