Worcestershire C-Card Scheme
An innovative sexual health scheme for young people is now operating across the county. The C-Card Scheme was launched by Worcestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership last year and offers confidential advice and free condoms to young people under 19.
A young person can go to one of 24 C-Card outlets to sign up. They have a confidential discussion about healthy relationships and sexual health with a trained professional. The young person and professional talk about issues such as the laws around sex, delaying sexual activity until they are ready, safer sex when they are ready and how to use condoms properly to prevent unplanned pregnancies and STIs.
After the discussion the young person is given their C-Card, which entitles them to free condoms from locations including Youth and Connexions centres. On a young persons eleventh visit to a C-Card outlet, they are then required to have another discussion with a trained professional to ensure they are still safe and the scheme is meeting their needs.
The scheme is being met with great enthusiasm across Worcestershire and has already proven a success in other parts of the UK. In Nottinghamshire, where under-18 conception rates have fallen by 24% in recent years*, over 13,000 young people are registered to the scheme. Continuing to develop initiatives across Worcestershire is high on the agenda for the Partnership and it is hoped that the C-Card Scheme will play a key role in the strategy to reduce under 18 conceptions in the county.
A C-Card leaflet for parents and carers has also been produced to support the delivery of the scheme. The leaflet describes how the scheme works and explains that the C-Card is not just about giving out condoms, but allowing young people the opportunity to explore sexual issues, raise questions in a confidential environment and gain information about sexual health services.
Contact: 01905 766286 or email teenagepregnancy@worcestershire.gov.uk