The day JLS took over Brook's National Office

It was a really exciting day for our Campaign Volunteers when JLS visited Brook's National Office to pledge their support to Brook and the Big isses don't have to be a big deal campaign. Two of the volunteers, Dimple and Lindsay, talk here about what that day meant to them...

Dimple Pau

The day JLS walked into national office was the day they gained a brand new set of fans. Everyone seemed to be mesmerised by a group of young guys absorbing themselves so passionately in what Brook does and how it operates. For a band to be so well known, with such a big fan base, makes it a really big deal for them to immerse themselves into an area most celebrities would shy away from.

The day was really successful, there was a good discussion between us and JLS, it was really interesting to hear their thoughts and motivations behind their involvement with Brook and sexual health. They were able to get a taste for all aspects of Brook and ask their own questions.

When I started at Brook, I remember having a discussion with the other volunteers about getting celebrities on board with the campaign, and at the time it felt like just a vision, I never in a million years thought it would actually happen. After all the research and hard work in getting the grounding of our campaign right, it was really good to watch JLS launch our campaign. They were wearing our badges and pointing at our posters, they really believed in the messages behind the campaign. And to launch it in only one take was pretty impressive!

Meeting JLS was really cool. I was a nervous wreak but they were down to earth and made everyone feel comfortable. What I liked most was their answer to my question. When I asked what they had planned other than the JLS foundation and their range of condoms, they said they had a whole lot more up their sleeve and that raising awareness about sexual health was an ongoing project they were not going to give up on, the condom range and the foundation is just the beginning.

JLS are great role models for Brook, they're not afraid to be different, and believe in young people's sexual health.

Lindsay Rae

It was really exciting with an air of anticipation throughout the whole office as not many people knew where JLS were going to meet us. It was also an awesome experience getting your photos taken and seeing over the photographer's shoulder into the next building, people gawping and staring out of the windows going "Is that really JLS over there?"

To have JLS on board is just a major achievement, as early on in our campaign journey when we were thinking about celebrity ambassadors JLS had just announced their intentions of a partnership with Durex. To then actually have their support is a dream come true. To know that they approved of our campaign posters made the feeling of pride and achievement even greater, especially after all the focus groups, meetings and sometimes agonising decision making that it took to get our message across the right way.

I was more star struck at meeting JLS than I thought I would be! They're great guys and very down to earth. Very accommodating and will sign autographs and pose for as many pictures as you asked them for, even if that meant their manager was urging them to hurry up!

They're very brave in what they want to do and it's about time that someone well known stood up for something that they really believe in. Too many celebrities shy away from voicing that there's a lack of positive information, as well as role models that young people can look up to in terms of sexual health.

I think that however much criticism JLS get about their condoms, it's a great thing to have and do, especially if it means their fans who are 16 and over will now buy and use their condoms, when they may not have done before. As they're also the first celebrities to have their names on condoms people will always have an opinion on their launch and success but I hope that this may lead to other celebrity endorsements in the future who care enough about the well being of fans to speak up about sexual health.

The JLS Foundation is a great way of showing the world that it's health in general that they care about.

Having JLS support Brook is one of the charity's biggest achievements to date and having them on board also means that our campaign is able to reach their fan base and beyond, who are the people that need this advice and information the most.

We couldn't have asked for more when we met JLS at our campaign launch. We only ever thought about having this type of support but never tried to put too much hope in being able to achieve it in time. It's almost indescribable what it felt like to know that all those little worries that you put to one side about getting enough media coverage, like all campaigns have, is now a reality. To know that Brook's name and campaign is going to get the column inches it deserves means that I can't thank JLS enough.

To find out more about the campaign click here.