Practical, peer-led support for Relationships, Sex and Health Education across the region
The RSHE Network North West is a free, collaborative community for RSHE leads, headteachers, deputies, safeguarding teams, and practitioners across the North West.
We share what works, co-create resources, and strengthen RSHE delivery across schools and colleges, ensuring children and young people across our region receive confident, inclusive, and effective education that meets our communities needs.
Our Story
The network first came together in 2019, following the success of the first RSE Conference North West hosted by Kerry Wolstenholme | Founder of Tough Cookies Education Ltd
Delegates at that event shared one clear next step, to keep the conversation going. So, the RSHE Network was born.
Over the following year, the Network met three times at Tough Cookies HQ in Media City, Salford. Where we shared best practice, professional discussion, guest speakers, and joint planning.
When COVID hit, everything paused. The network continued locally with a few committed partners, keeping the connection alive.
Now, in 2025, the RSHE Network North West is being relaunched, refreshed, re-energised, and ready to meet the needs of our communities, schools, colleges, parents, children and young people.
There’s a lot happening in the RSHE landscape, from national reviews and policy updates to local curriculum developments and the aim of this network is to make sure that every practitioner across the North West feels connected, supported, and confident in what they deliver.
What We Do
The network exists to share practice, build confidence, and connect professionals delivering RSHE.
We:
- Host termly meetings in-person meetings for our community of educators in the North West .
- Offer a safe space for questions, challenges, and honest discussion.
- Promote youth voice and inclusive practice across all RSHE topics.
- Share classroom & community ready resources created by practitioners, for practitioners.
- Link colleagues across third sector, schools, trusts, and local authorities to share approaches that work.
Who Runs It
The network is provided by Kerry Wolstenholme, founder of the RSHE Conference North West and long-time advocate for high-quality, inclusive relationships and health education.
A voluntary steering group of RSHE leads, headteachers, safeguarding staff, sexual health nurses and youth workers help shape priorities, review resources, and ensure the network remains free, practical, and community focused.
The network is not commercial, there are no membership fees or sales. The network exists purely to support the delivery of quality and effective RSHE across the North West.
Why It Matters
RSHE has never been more important. Children and young people are navigating complex social worlds, online, offline, and everything in between. They need adults who are confident, well-informed, and equipped to guide them through issues of body, health, and relationships.
Our vision is simple:
“Every child and young person in the North West deserves brilliant, relevant, and effective RSHE — delivered by educators who feel confident and connected.”
Kerry Wolstenholme 