London’s biggest student night, Milkshake - held at legendary venue Ministry of Sound - is backing a new sexual health campaign and urging the capital’s students to play it safe with a condom queue jump promotion during February.
The superclub is giving condom-carriers the VIP treatment on Tuesday 16th and 23rd February, allowing them to jump the queue if they show a condom at the door. Clubbers with rubbers will also receive a unique surprise gift on the night. The promotion coincides with an RnB and Hip-Hop Valentine’s special set, with more than 2,000 clubbers expected to see the Ministry DJs take to the decks. Research reveals that large numbers of young people across the country say they have had unprotected sex because they didn’t have a condom on them. This reflects the unnecessary risks men and women take with their sexual health, with nearly three quarters of 16-24 year olds admitting they don’t always use condoms.
The Queue Jump with a Condom promotion comes as a new campaign – Contraception. Worth Talking About – is launched to increase young people’s awareness of the different types of contraception and remind them that they won’t be protected against STIs without a condom. Good progress in tackling the problem has been made in recent years, but diagnoses of infections such as chlamydia remain high and in some areas are growing. The campaign also aims to encourage people to talk about sex and contraception and to facilitate better knowledge and understanding. Research shows that a lack of knowledge and information, coupled with poor attitudes and communication, is currently hindering safer sexual behaviour.
In the last two years, more than 100 Queue Jump with a Condom promotions have taken place up and down the country, encouraging thousands of adults to carry condoms as part of their normal routine, and protect against the spread of STIs. Natasha Palmer from Ministry of Sound said: “Carrying a condom on a night out is not only the best way to play it safe – it now comes with the added benefit of avoiding the crowds as the hottest student night returns in 2010. We hope to see lots of party goers queue-jumping with a condom during February.”
For straightforward information and advice to make it easier to discuss everything to do with sexual health visit: www.nhs.uk/worthtalkingabout
