Croydon, Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Programme (TP3)

Croydon Primary Care Trust (PCT) and partners locally developed a Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Programme (TP3) which aims to contribute to a reduction in teenage conception and STI rates by working with vulnerable groups of young people.

This six week programme covers:
• Relationships, self-esteem, negotiation skills- including the confidence to delay early sex;
• Contraception, increasing their understanding; raising awareness of STIs and how to avoid them; and to increase confidence in using sexual health services.
• The young people also have the opportunity to experience virtual babies and the bump.

Pilots
From November 2007 – January 2008 TP3 was piloted in one secondary school and one non-school setting. The programme has been developed by the SRE Training & Development Specialist for Croydon PCT Teenage Pregnancy Team, a Senior Staff Nurse (School Nursing) and Youth Workers from Croydon Youth Service along with the support of the school and youth centre setting involved.

Roll Out
After two extremely successful pilots, this programme is now in the process of being rolled out in a number of various settings including Pupil Referral Units, schools and non-school settings with groups of young people. Priority has been given to schools in high teenage pregnancy wards and PRUs. From the beginning of the programme including the pilots 90 young people have benefited from TP3.

To date the programme has worked well and continues to be facilitated by School Nurses completing PSHE Accreditation in SRE, Youth workers, SRE Training & Development Specialist along with PSHE Co-ordinators and other dedicated staff.

Comments from young people involved:
‘After completing the programme, it has made me realise that I am not ready for sex. I feel better about myself and want to achieve things, like go to university, before settling down to have a family’

‘This has made me realise, that I am not ready to be a dad. I will be more responsible now.’


For further information contact:

Kerry Starrett
Tel: 020 8274 6396
kerrystarrett@croydonpct.nhs.uk