HELPING boys to get proper information about sex and answering the questions they are too embarrassed to ask anyone else, has won a school nurse a top award.
Christopher Mayer, 32, who works at a group of schools in Upton, Cheshire, has developed sex education leaflets and a website for young people.
His aim is to ensure they can get clear, unbiased information on sensitive subjects like safe sex, relationships, contraception, sexually-transmitted infections and abortion, backed up with details of how to get further help and advice.
Mr Mayer, who works alongside a female colleague, Christina MacAlister, also answers questions by e-mail.
Common queries include how to identify and treat sexually-transmitted infections, how to deal with failed cntraception, how to practise safe sex and how to discuss sex with partners.
His work, including a booklet called Let’s Talk About Sex and Boys’ Talk, a leaflet for 10 to 12-year-old boys discussing puberty, has won him the Community Nursing prize from this year’s Nursing Standard Nurse 2000 awards.
Mr Mayer, who started his career as a children’s nurse before taking a degree in health science, prides himself on his good relationship with pupils.
“We are on first-name terms. Being an outside worker coming into school does help. Often they are too embarrassed to discuss these subjects with parents or teachers and having a male nurse for boys to talk to is obviously a help.
“Some primary schools I cover have an entirely female staff.”
