Lyn Brown MP has welcomed a 20% fall in teenage pregnancies in Newham, to their lowest rate in 20 years. 

The Government has invested an additional £26.8 million nationwide in 2008 on promoting contraception.  In Newham, improved sex and relationship education and programmes like C-Card, which allows young people to obtain free condoms, have contributed to this fall in teenage pregnancies. 

Projects like Shine ALOUD, NHS Newham’s Young People’s Sexual Health Group, have helped to raise awareness and understanding amongst young people of the issues around teenage sexuality and pregnancy.  This group is run by 16-24 year olds and influences how sexual health and well-being services are run in Newham.  Young people from Shine Aloud wrote, acted in and filmed 'Unexpecting', a new sex and relationships education resource.  This film previewed during World AIDS Week in Stratford Circus in December and is now being circulated to all schools and colleges in Newham.

Shine Aloud has been nominated for Brook Young People’s Sexual Health Project 2010, the award ceremony is on Thursday 4^th March 2010.

The Government has also announced better support for parents,  the new Worth Talking About campaign will help parents talk to their children about sex.

Lyn Brown MP said:

“This dramatic fall in teenage pregnancies in Newham is really encouraging and shows the real difference that Government investment is making. 

NHS Newham is working with our young people to develop innovative ways to educate everyone in our community about sex and relationships and I congratulate them on their efforts.

Better education, improved advice and support for our young people is vital to help them make informed decisions about sex.  This will help to delay the age at which they start having sex and minimise the risk of teenage pregnancy.

By investing in improved education and advice and involving young people at every stage, this Government is helping to give them the best possible start in life.”