Shelf (sexual health service), Peterborough
Encyclopedia
Shelf is a voluntary organisation created with the aim of bringing new levels of sexual health awareness to young people of the United Kingdom
. It is unique in that it was founded by four Year 10 students of Peterborough
in April 2007 and is still currently owned and operated by them. It was founded with support from members of Peterborough City Council and the Peterborough NHS
Primary Care Trust. Shelf runs via a website and distributed brochures containing information on sexual health and links to local support organisations.
(NAGTY). The competition ran over 10 weeks, and required groups of students (aided by a mentor) to produce a business idea by completing weekly tasks. Over 30 groups entered the competition and then presented their ideas to a panel of judges, in the style of the BBC
’s 'Dragons' Den
', at an event held at Aston Business School
in July 2007. The four best groups then presented their ideas again to all competitors and judges. "Team Joey
"–named after the character in the US TV sitcom Friends
–presented Shelf and won the competition.
The prize was a fully funded five-star trip to New York City
which took place in October 2007. As well as sightseeing, the students (accompanied by two teachers and a member of staff from the University of Warwick, England
) visited the Goldman Sachs
offices, where they presented their ideas once more. Staff were "said to have been extremely impressed".
An additional prize of the funding necessary to start up the enterprise was personally offered by Glenn Earle (Chief Managing Director of Goldman Sachs
Investment Bank Europe).
In January 2008, a full trial of the website was run for Year 11 students (aged 15–16) in Jack Hunt School
, from which feedback was ascertained, aiding the development of the website.
Following further funding from The Youth Bank of Peterborough City Council, the website was officially launched on the 19th March, 2008. A publicised media event was held inviting representatives from across the UK. Local BBC News
and magazine coverage later followed.
Search facilities, local service links and embedded content were added to leave room for future development and expansion.
Plans for future development include targeting higher and further education students, as well as young people under the age of 25.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is unique in that it was founded by four Year 10 students of Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
in April 2007 and is still currently owned and operated by them. It was founded with support from members of Peterborough City Council and the Peterborough NHS
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
Primary Care Trust. Shelf runs via a website and distributed brochures containing information on sexual health and links to local support organisations.
History
Shelf was originally created as a business idea to be entered into "The Big Deal", a national business and enterprise challenge run by the National Academy for Gifted and Talented YouthNational Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth
The National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth was based at the University of Warwick in Britain and was founded in 2002 by a government initiative for high-achieving secondary students in England. It closed in August 2007, after Warwick University decided not to apply for the new contract...
(NAGTY). The competition ran over 10 weeks, and required groups of students (aided by a mentor) to produce a business idea by completing weekly tasks. Over 30 groups entered the competition and then presented their ideas to a panel of judges, in the style of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
’s 'Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den is a series of reality television programmes featuring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas in order to secure investment finance from a panel of venture capitalists. The show originated in Japan as "Manē no Tora"...
', at an event held at Aston Business School
Aston Business School
Aston Business School is the business school of Aston University in Birmingham, England. Founded in 1967 it offered its first MBA programme in 1968. In 2006 it opened a new £22m extension including new study rooms and two new lecture theatres....
in July 2007. The four best groups then presented their ideas again to all competitors and judges. "Team Joey
Joey Tribbiani
Joseph Francis "Joey" Tribbiani, Jr. is a fictional character on the popular U.S. television sitcom Friends and the title character in the spin-off, Joey , portrayed by Matt LeBlanc....
"–named after the character in the US TV sitcom Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
–presented Shelf and won the competition.
The prize was a fully funded five-star trip to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
which took place in October 2007. As well as sightseeing, the students (accompanied by two teachers and a member of staff from the University of Warwick, England
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
) visited the Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
offices, where they presented their ideas once more. Staff were "said to have been extremely impressed".
An additional prize of the funding necessary to start up the enterprise was personally offered by Glenn Earle (Chief Managing Director of Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
Investment Bank Europe).
Service launch
In December 2008, Shelf established links with members of the Peterborough NHS Primary Care Trust (CaSH), Peterborough City Council and DrinkSense to discuss how best the services could be implemented and run alongside what was already in place in Peterborough.In January 2008, a full trial of the website was run for Year 11 students (aged 15–16) in Jack Hunt School
Jack Hunt School
Jack Hunt School is a co-educational foundation comprehensive school and specialist language and sports college in Netherton in the city of Peterborough in the United Kingdom. The school currently has 1,466 pupils on the roll, aged 11 to 18...
, from which feedback was ascertained, aiding the development of the website.
Following further funding from The Youth Bank of Peterborough City Council, the website was officially launched on the 19th March, 2008. A publicised media event was held inviting representatives from across the UK. Local BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
and magazine coverage later followed.
Redesign
An updated, newly designed multi-platform version of Shelf (2.0) went live on 18 July 2009 after 3 months of development and contribution by and from students.Search facilities, local service links and embedded content were added to leave room for future development and expansion.
Plans for future development include targeting higher and further education students, as well as young people under the age of 25.