Website highlighted for young people

The Sevenoaks District Local Implementation Group, as part of the Kent Teenage Pregnancy Partnership, are increasing their sexual health promotions during Contraceptive Awareness Week covering the 11 to 15 February.

The group, which consists of multi agency professionals, will be ensuring that promotional materials are displayed in key places where teenagers frequent, including selected local shops in a bid to increase the awareness of sexual health information and services available for young people.

The emphasis for this week will be on promoting the ‘foryoungpeople’ website, a sexual health website at www.foryoungpeople.co.uk specifically for young people in Kent.

The Kent Teenage Pregnancy Partnership, along with young people, designed the 4YP logo which represents young people’s services across Kent.

These services have to meet a young people friendly criteria in order to be badged with the logo.

“The website has recently been revamped, making it more user friendly for young people. The site includes information on new local services and initiatives, for example, the C Card scheme.

“Details are updated regularly to keep teenagers informed with up to date information and includes a section called ‘Just ask us’.

“This allows young people to ask sexual health questions and have the answers posted to the site anonymously.

“This is great for young people who find it difficult to talk to adults about issues they have and ensures they receive professional sexual health advice” said Louise Pantony, Media Manager for the Kent Teenage Pregnancy Partnership.

The most popular page accessed on the website is the Services Section which includes details of local Family Planning and Young People Clinics, Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinics (screening for sexually transmitted infections) and access to emergency contraception.

Other ways to access service information include a pre recorded free information line 0800 072 8748, (free to landlines) and a text service

The last annual report from the Kent Teenage Pregnancy Partnership indicated that 49% of young people across Kent recognised the logo and nearly 800,000 hits were recorded on the website, figures which the Partnership are keen to increase.

In a recent local survey by Edenbridge Youth Forum it was found that 10% of young people had recognition and awareness of the website.

“This concerted effort through our campaign is to make sure more local young people are aware,” said Jane Kennedy, Senior Practitioner for Sexual Health West Kent PCT.

“It is important that teenagers access this website to become better informed, have choices and are aware of local services so they can access them should they need to.

“The website is very informative especially if they have missed Sex and Relationships Education in school.”

Councillor Felicity Broomby, Sevenoaks District Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for healthy living, welcomes the promotion of the website: "Our track record of working in partnership with the West Kent Primary Care Trust puts this Council in a good position to help reduce teenage pregnancy rates over the year.

“This is something which we have already highlighted as an important act in the Sevenoaks District Community Action Plan."

The Family Planning Association’s Contraceptive Week, is a national campaign and the theme for this week is the New Man with an emphasis towards men getting better informed, as contraception and becoming pregnant is not just a woman thing.

With this in mind the promotion of www.foryoungpeople.co.uk is a more attractive way for young men to become aware and more informed easily.