Ringtone spreads safe sex message in Coventry
A song, originally written by a group of young Coventry musicians to highlight the importance of safe sex, has been turned in to a ringtone for people to download from iTunes.
Rather Be Safe Than Sorry, which was written by Josh Hale, Casey Shortt and Alex Howarth, won an X factor style competition in Coventry, the SEX Factor, to encourage people to take the appropriate preventative steps to avoid sexually transmitted infections.
The SEX Factor Competition was developed by C-Card to help raise awareness of safe sex in a fun and interesting way.
Jo Hatfield, C-Card Co-ordinator at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “It is vitally important to engage with young people in a way that they are able to relate to and the song had kick-started a lot of interest.
“This type of thing has never been done before, so it has the novelty factor as well as being a fun and unique way to promote C-Card, and, most importantly, it is another way of getting the key messages out there about safe sex which what the C-Card scheme is all about.”
So far, the advertisement for the ringtone has reached over 25,000 people via C-Card Coventry Facebook page and has received 128 ‘likes’.
Josh Hale, a member of The Northbrook Boys, who wrote the song along with Casey Shortt and Alex Howarth, said: “I can’t believe the song has been turned into a ringtone!
“We feel really privileged to be spearheading an important campaign and the interest has been beyond our expectations. Don’t think many people can say that they have a ringtone! I’m so proud of the success the song has had!”
Kerrie Beasley, Head of Coventry’s Specialist Sexual Health Service, at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “We’re very lucky in Coventry to have such great support, through a variety of channels, which all designed to help keep people safe and well.
“The C-Card scheme in Coventry was set up to provide information on sexual health and sexual health services in the City and this ringtone is yet another fantastic way to get an important message out to people.”
All profits made from the download of this ringtone will go to Coventry Lord Mayor’s charities.
Further details on Coventry’s C-Card scheme can be found at:http://www.besavvy.org.uk/new/c-card/service.aspx
The Integrated Sexual Health Services’ Team in Coventry operates from the City of Coventry Health Centre, Stoney Stanton, Road, Coventry CV1 4FS.
The team can be contacted by calling 0300 020 0027.
Information on how to get to the City of Coventry Health Centre, and assistance with planning your journey, can be found at,http://www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/Pages/City-of-Coventry-Health-Centre.aspx
Further information, including details on the services available and opening times, can be found on Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust’s website - http://www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/services/CHWS/primary-care/sexual-health/Pages/default.aspx