Wexford Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Services offers an Educational Outreach Service to all secondary schools within the county of Wexford.

This service involves the delivery and facilitation of a Safety Awareness & Youth Information Training Programme to students aged 15 and up. The programme, which is called ‘Learning for Living’ consists of 5 ninety minute sessions.

‘Learning for Living’ gives young people the opportunity to explore their own behaviours, communication styles, beliefs and values. It also gives them the chance to learn how to communicate clearly and effectively and provides them with the tools they may need if/when faced with specific real life situations such as being bullied, being pressurised by peers or a boyfriend/girlfriend, or being harassed. The programme helps young people to identify what a healthy relationship is and what the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship are. It also helps them to plan ahead, to take steps to try and ensure their own safety, and what to do if they are sexually assaulted/abused in any way.

The ‘Learning for Living’ Programme is just about to enter its third academic year and every year the number of schools availing of this educational outreach service is growing. For the academic year ahead 2006/2007, the programme has already been time tabled into 5 local schools - Bridgetown Technical School, The CBS in Enniscorthy, The Loreto in Wexford town, The Community School in Gorey, and The VEC in Wexford town. Between all 5 schools the programme will be delivered to over 200 students over the course of 40 weeks.