Teenage pregnancy is currently a hot issue, with the government promising to slash conception rates by 50% by 2010.
Part of Connexions response to this challenging target has been to create a partnership between Connexions and Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual health Team. 'SEXions' at Ashfield Primary Care Trust. The centre has only been operating for 12 weeks and already 150 young people have been assisted.
The SEXions project is a new venture implemented to help and assist teenagers and their families on issues of sexual health and teenage pregnancy. It aims to reduce teen pregnancy in the Ashfield and Hucknall areas and address the risks to their sexual health, by raising awareness and educating young people.
Sarah Corner is the project co-ordinator of SEXions and tells of the expectations of the scheme. "The team aims to provide information and advice to teenagers and their families, but we also hope to operate school health drop-in services for all young people, including those with physical and learning difficulties. With the aim of raising awareness with all young people to the possible risks involved in sex and where to go for advice" she says. This will prove to be a valuable venture, as currently the teenage pregnancy rate in Nottinghamshire is higher than the average for the rest of Britain.
Sarah is one of four in the team, which works hard to communicate with difficult to reach young people, in or out of the school environment. Educational sessions and ‘health fairs’ are being set up within all the local secondary schools in order to reach as many young people as possible. As part of Connexions targets, she helps to monitor the number of young mothers the team helps into employment, education and training following the birth of their child. The team works closely with Sure Start Ashfield, NCH, Family Planning and local schools and colleges (amongst others) to obtain support and advice from local community projects.
There are great aspirations for the future of the project. Funding which Connexions, New Opportunity Fund and Teenage Pregnancy Unit have jointly provided is guaranteed for the next two years and will hopefully result in a successful reduction of teenage pregnancy and sexual transmitted infections in the Ashfield area.
For further information or advice on teenage pregnancy and sexual health please contact the Ashfield Sexions Team directly.
