Our advisory group

Originally supported by a Steering Group of 24 members for the first 3 years of the RSE Hub’s existence, the Hub moved to a smaller Advisory Group Model in October 2013.  We are very grateful for all the hard work and support offered by our steering group over the years and in particular would like to thank Libby Lee, Andy Packer and Neil Davidson for their committed support to the Hub.

Chair: Norah O’Brien- Representing PHE

Norah O'Brien was the founding member of the RSE steering group in November 2010 which resulted in the RSE Hub the following year. Norah's vision was to improve the status of RSE whilst advocating for high quality and consistent RSE provision and delivery. Norah currently works as a sexual health facilitator for Public Health England, based in the South West.  Norah is a member of the sexual health board for the South West representing young people’s relationships and sexual health issues.  She says "Delivering high quality RSE in educational settings is essential for ensuring young people’s health outcomes.”

Stuart Jackson - Representing the Exchange Foundation

Stuart  a founder of the Exchange Foundation,  Stuart is passionate about people and behaviour change,  and system leadership. Stuart advises public, private and non-profit sector clients and has considerable experience in behaviour change, engagement, social media, digital communications, and leadership development.

Stuart co-developed  the healthy schools program engagement and actively co-developed the PHSE and Wellbeing focus for the program. Passionate about relationship, choice  and the health and wellbeing  of our future generations. 

Gail McVicar- Representing Independent Consultants

Following nine years of work with Planned Parenthood Federation Canada on both a local and national level, Gail McVicar immigrated to the UK.  As the Sex and Relationships Education Adviser for the Healthy Schools Team and the Youth Engagement Service of Swindon Borough Council, Gail developed sessions to meet the RSE needs of vulnerable and excluded young people. One of the highlights of Gail’s career so far, includes receiving the Brook Award for UK Sexual Health Professional of the Year for 2010.

In addition to co-facilitating training for professionals working with young people through an independent consultancy team, Gail works one to one with young people on issues of sexual risk taking behaviour, sexual exploitation, sexual orientation, gender identity, and appropriate behaviour/ boundaries for young people with Moderate Learning Difficulties, Aspergers or Autistic Spectrum Disorders.  With her open attitude and comfortable presentation style, Gail hopes to empower people to view sexuality as a life long journey of pleasure, choice and communication.

Kerry Wheeler- Representing Bath &North East Somerset Sexual Health Team 

Kerry has a broad range of experience of sexual health education/promotion, from operational delivery to strategic planning, having worked in sexual health in Brighton & Hove and London for over 8 years. Her experience comes from working within charitable organisations (Brook and YMCA), two NHS Trusts and within Brighton Hove Council commissioning team. Kerry is currently employed by Sirona Care and Health as Sexual Health Improvement Practitioner, the overarching aim of the role is to ensure that Sexual Health and Relationships Information, Education, and Services in B&NES are appropriate and accessible to all – with particular attention being paid to the more vulnerable groups.

Karl Sweeney- Representing Local Authority- Plymouth

Karl has worked in education for the last thirty-one years  - twenty-five of these as a secondary teacher and Head of Faculty, and for the last six as a Local Authority Education Adviser for Health Wellbeing and Citizenship in Plymouth . His key area of focus was and is the 'professionalisation' of teaching of PSHE and Citizenship and moving both subjects to the centre of any policy initiatives designed to improve the quality of education in this country. He is Chair of the National Council of the Association for Citizenship Teaching and is England Lead in the Five Nations Network for Citizenship Ed.

Milly Carmichael- Representing Independent Consultants.

Milly comes with over 20 years experience including nursing, youth work and adult training. Most of her clinical work was based in sexual health and she has also worked with people experiencing drug, alcohol and mental health problems. After five years with the Teenage Pregnancy Team in Swindon, Milly co-managed a well evaluated programme of multi-agency training covering sexual health, substance use and mental health allied closely with local safeguarding training. She now co-directs MO Training & Consultancy, providing adult training and student support in RSE, substance use and mental health. She has spoken at local, regional and national conferences and was a key member of Leonard Cheshire's award-winning 'In Touch' project team addressing sexual health learning with young disabled people. Milly is keen to keep in mind the needs of young people who are outside mainstream education or are post school leaving age.

Rhiannon Holder representing Brook.

Brook is the country's largest young people's sexual health charity. For almost 50 years, Brook have been providing confidential sexual health services, support and advice to young people under the age of 25. Brook provides services across three key areas:

•          Clinical and support services

•          Education and training

•          Advocacy, campaigning, lobbying and influencing

In her role as Bristol Education and Training Manager, Rhiannon supports the delivery of relationships and sex education across Bristol and surrounding areas, as well as specific projects like Outreach services, Learning Disabilities and Participation. Rhiannon has worked with young people around sexual health for over 10 years, and was a member of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group.

Sarah Aston representing Torbay PHE

Sarah Aston has worked in HIV and Sexual health education and health promotion for 20 years, educating young people in both formal and informal settings across Plymouth, Devon and Torbay. Sarah worked for The Eddystone Trust for 12 years, the South West HIV and Sexual Health charity which delivers accredited training to professionals across the South West; including people delivering PSHE/RSE. More recently she moved positions to become a Advanced Public Health Practitioner in Torbay, Devon. Sarah has an interest in gay and bisexual men’s health and has represented the South West in the national CHAPS HIV prevention partnership from 2008-2012. Sarah has a background in teaching, youth work and community development, and brings a community development and informal educational slant to the Hub’s approach.

Teresa Day- Representing Somerset Local Authority

Teresa Day is the Relationships and Sex Education Advisor (amongst other things!) in Somerset County Council’s Public Health Team. She has been involved in the RSE hub since its inception.

Viv Crouch MBE- Representing School Nurses

Viv is still working both as a school and CASH nurse after 31 years’ experience playing an active part in delivering sex and relationships education. She won the Pamela Sheridan award for sex education in the 1990’s, and about 10 years ago won an innovation award from the Queen’s Nursing Institute for a sex and relationships education game she created, which has been used widely through-out Bath and North East Somerset.

As the PSHE specialist in the school nurse team she has managed to set up contraceptive/sexual health clinics in young people friendly, easily accessible locations (schools and youth clubs etc) striving to link good relationships education with these clinics. She strongly believes in young people’s participation in all aspects of delivery whether that be clinic locations or content of sex and relationships education.

Viv is one of 4 trainers for the PSHE CPD programme in Bath and North East Somerset which has had a tremendous impact on the delivery of PSHE in schools and other settings

She was a member of the Sex Ed Forum for many years, a trustee for Brook National for about 7 years and part of the original Independent Advisory Group to the cabinet Office for 5 years where she spoke passionately about the need for statutory PSHE!

The RSE Hub is project managed by Alice Hoyle 

Alice Hoyle has a strong background in relationships& sex education. Originally a fast track Biology teacher she has been employed as a Head of PSHE, regional subject adviser for PSHE, SRE adviser for Enfield and HIV Education Adviser for Enfield & Haringey.

As a freelance RSE/PSHE consultant she has worked for the PSHE Association, Optimus Education, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bath Spa University, and The Christopher Winter Project amongst others. 

She has written many RSE resources including the teachers booklet and lesson plans for Sense Sex & Relationships Education CD-Rom, which became a national resource in Welsh secondary schools.

She sits on both the PSHE Association & Sex Education Forum Advisory Councils, and has a strong understanding of local and national issues relating to relationships & sex education. 

Alice is totally committed to raising the status of RSE and supporting educators in the provision of high quality RSE as she strongly believes that this subject contributes significantly to supporting young people’s happy, healthy & safe development into adulthood. Alice is now on shared parental leave until January 2016