Consent
What is consent?
Consent is an agreement from both people included to engage in sexual activity. Consent should be clearly given and freely communicated. A verbal and affirmative expression of consent can help both you and your partner to understand and respect each other's boundaries. A person is not able to consent to sexual activity when, they are under the age of 16, drunk or using drugs and if your asleep of unconscious.
The law
The age of consent in England and Wales is 16. This is the age when young people of any sex, gender or sexual orientation can legally consent to taking part in sexual activity. It's a criminal offence for any kind of sexual activity to take place between two people where one or both participants is under 16. Nobody can consent if they are intoxicated or asleep.
Are you ready to consent?
Deciding whether or not your ready to start having sex is a very big deal. It's an important decision your the only person who can decide whether your ready or not. But it can be really helpful to someone you trust like a parent, a friend, or someone else who cares about you.
Sex can be really great, but it has many risks like STDs and unplanned pregnancy. But sex can also have emotional risks. Sex before you're ready, sex with someone you don't trust or respect, or sex that doesn't feel good can lead to some really stressful feelings. And sex shouldn't be stressful.
The 3 C’s of consent
Communication
This is making sure that both people are saying yes or no to sexual activity. This also allows there to be a good connection and people to give their open and honest opinions.
Caring
This means you care for eachothers health and well-being, both people see eachother as equals and treat eachother with respect.
Caution
This means that you are thinking about the others persons body language and what they are seeing and doing to see if they still feel comfortable.