Support for Young People

Teenage Pregnancy

The Social Exclusion Report on Teenage Pregnancy (June 1999) stated that Britain had the worst record of teenage pregnancies in Europe with approximately 90,000 teenagers becoming pregnant every year. Every part of the country is affected, but the situation is worst in the poorest areas. The report highlighted two main goals:

• Reducing the rate of teenage conceptions, with the specific aim of halving the rate of conceptions among under 18s by 2010
• Getting more teenage parents into education, training or employment, to reduce the risk of long term social exclusion

The Teenage Pregnancy Unit, a cross-Government unit located within the Department of Health, was set up to implement the Report.

A National Action Plan was developed which included:

• A national campaign to improve understanding and change behaviour
• Joined Up action - through the national unit and local co-ordination
• Better Prevention - better education in and out of school, access to contraception, targeting at-risk groups such as youth offenders
• Better Support for Teenage Parents- around education, childcare and housing

Locally, the teenage pregnancy strategy is managed and implemented by the teenage pregnancy co-ordinator. The strategy is also steered by a teenage pregnancy strategy group and reflects the Every Child Matters: Change for Children Agenda.

Contacts

Marie Trueman - Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator (covering maternity leave)

Tel: 020 7641 6017     Fax: 020 7641 3404

Email: mtrueman@westminster.gov.uk

Address: 13th Floor, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP

Chloe Watkis – Connexions Personal Advisor for teenage parents

Tel: 0845 077 0779

Email:cwatkis@westminster.gov.uk

Address: Connexions One Stop Shop, Stowe Club, 258 Harrow Road, London W2 5ES

Hulda Francois-Camero – Connexions Group Worker for Teenage Parents

Tel: 0845 077 0779

Email: hfrancois-camero@wesminster.gov.uk

Address: Connexions One Stop Shop, Stowe Club, 258 Harrow Road, London W2 5ES

Documents

10 year teenage pregnancy strategy (2000-2010)

2006/07 teenage pregnancy action plan (latest)

Teenage Pregnancy Conception Rates
Under 18’s (Rate per 1000 females aged 15-17, source ONS)

Information for young people

Websites / Help Lines

The following websites includes information on sexual health, relationships, teenage pregnancy and lots of other useful stuff including information on clinics.

www.ruthinking.co.uk  / 0800 28 29 30

www.brook.org.uk / 0800 0185 023

Local Services
In Westminster there are two sexual health services just for young people.

They both provide CONFIDENTIAL advice on sexual health for people aged 19 and under. Services you can access include free condoms and other contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, safer sex and sexuality information.

Both services are drop ins – so you don’t need an appointment.

Cont@ct at Victoria Clinic

2nd Floor, South Westminster Centre for Sexual Health
82 Vincent Square
London SW1P 2PF
Tel: 0845 811 6699
Open 3.30-4.30pm Monday to Friday

Nearest tubes: St James’ Park (district and circle lines) or Victoria (victoria, district and circle lines)

Bus routes

ARC at Winsland Clinic
1st Floor, Jefferiss Wing, St Mary’s Hopsital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY
Tel: 020 7886 6626
Open 3-5pm on Tuesday

Nearest tubes: Paddington (Hammersmith & City, district, circle and bakerloo lines) or Edgware Road  (Hammersmith & City, district and circle lines)

Bus routes

There are also other sexual health and contraceptive services in the borough available to people of any age. Give Cont@ct or ARC a call and they will be able to direct you to these.