Main aim of the C-Card Scheme:
To increase the availability, accessibility and acceptability of condoms amongst under 25’s in Brighton & Hove.
How does it work?
It's for young people aged 13-25. They are able to go to any of the c-card condom outlets in the city (see list on homepage) to have a ‘condom consultation’ (involving a chat on safer sex, contraception use, a condom teach and offered a Chlamydia screen) and then will be given a safer sex pack with the condoms and be given a c-card. After this initial ‘condom consultation’ they are then able to their c-card at any of the condom outlets across the city and will receive a safer sex pack (no questions asked), they will have their card signed and dated by a worker. After 8 visits (when the card is full) they will have to ‘check in’ with a worker (at any of the condom outlets) and will get re-issued another c-card.. We very much promote the message that getting free condoms does not mean you have to have sex, it’s about being prepared and getting clued up about safer sex!
A common enquiry and concern from a parent:
Subject: My 14 yr old daughter
I am absolutely furious to have discovered that my daughter has twice been issued with condoms, please could you explain how you appear to have gained parental rights as I am horrified. Thankfully she hasn't used them but all you are doing in supplying girls of her age is making them feel older than they are. I have not agreed to you giving my daughter contraception, this is utterly wrong, Upset Parent, Brighton
Response:
I’m sorry you feel furious about this. Under 16s do have the right to access sexual health services in a confidential manner without parental consent, this includes condoms. This is the case across England, not just Brighton and Hove. Parental involvement and engagement would always be encouraged by workers when they are talking with teenagers. Your daughter would have requested to have the condoms, and workers would not refuse this. She would not have been given them without her either wanting them, or requesting them. Condoms would always be given out within a sexual health and relationships discussion, particularly within Brighton and Hove within the C-Card Scheme. This would have included discussion about knowing when the right time is to begin a sexual relationship. We very much promote the message 'to wait until you feel ready' and support young people in their skills development to resist the pressures that are all around them in society to start being sexually active. The average age nationally that young people start having sex is now 16, so we need to be realistic about this issue.
Whenever we promote condom use we always would state that you don't have to be having sex, even thinking about sex to actually have access to condoms, its about education. All the evidence that exists on sex education supports an open and honest approach and issuing condoms in no way promotes or encourages earlier sexual activity. In other European countries who have the lowest rates of teenage pregnancy and STIs its clear its because they have a much more open and honest approach to sexuality and provide contraceptive services, sex education from a young age, this is from sex education in schools, in the home environment and also from vital confidential services we offer.
Please do contact me if you would like to discuss this further