In February around Valentine’s Day, we know that messages about love and relationships are everywhere. For many young people, this can be a positive time, but for others, it highlights confusion, pressure, or unhealthy expectations around what a relationship should look like.
To address this, Health Services in Schools (HSIS) Youth Workers in Wirral are launching an Is This Love? campaign across Wirral schools and colleges during the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. The campaign aims to raise awareness of healthy relationships, challenge harmful attitudes, and provide young people with the support they need to feel safe, respected, and valued in their relationships.
What we’re hearing from young people
Through the HSIS youth workers and school based support, young people continue to tell them that they are experiencing:
• Confusion about what “normal” behaviour is in relationships
• Pressure from peers and social media
• Misogynistic attitudes influencing how they feel they should act or be treated
• Difficulties recognising early signs of unhealthy or controlling behaviour
These concerns highlight how important it is that we continue to create spaces where young people can talk openly, learn, and develop confidence in understanding their own boundaries.
What HSIS will be doing in Valentine's week
HSIS youth workers will be delivering activities, workshops, and informal drop ins across schools and colleges in Wirral to:
• Promote positive, healthy relationship behaviours
• Challenge misogyny and other harmful social norms
• Increase awareness of consent, respect, and emotional wellbeing
• Encourage young people to seek support if something doesn’t feel right
We want young people to feel empowered to ask themselves, “Is this love?” and to recognise the answers that help them build safe, happy, and healthy relationships.
For more information visit the Wirral Sandbox website here.
For tips on happy, safe relationships visit the Zillo website here.
