Laura Coryton

Nationality: United Kingdom

Organization Name: Sex Ed Matters

Impact Region: Europe

About the Social Business: Sex Ed Matters is a social enterprise founded by Laura Coryton in 2019, dedicated to delivering comprehensive and inclusive sex and relationship education across the UK. The organization provides workshops and resources focused on consent, periods, LGBT rights, and other crucial topics. Sex Ed Matters empowers young people by tackling the taboos surrounding sex education, aiming to foster confidence and knowledge in navigating real-life relationships. The initiative responds to the gaps in sex education in the UK, ensuring young people are equipped with the tools they need for healthy relationships. Their vision is to create a future where young people feel empowered to express boundaries, understand consent, and have access to essential education on topics like menstruation.

About the Y&Y Fellow: Laura Coryton is a social entrepreneur, campaigner, and feminist activist who has been dedicated to advancing gender equality and improving sex education across the UK. She graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London, with a degree in International Relations and later earned a master’s in Women’s Studies from the University of Oxford. Laura first gained international recognition for her “Stop Taxing Periods” campaign, where she successfully petitioned to abolish the UK’s tampon tax, garnering over 300,000 signatures and achieving legislative change in 2021. Her experiences during this campaign exposed the broader issues surrounding sex education, inspiring her to found Sex Ed Matters. Laura continues to expand the impact of her work, bringing essential conversations on consent, periods, and sexuality into classrooms across the country. Laura was awarded the UKRI Young Innovator Award in 2023 and the Women in Innovation Award in 2024 for her work with Sex Ed Matters. Additionally, she was appointed an MBE in 2024 for her services to charitable campaigning.