38% rise in take-up of C-card scheme

A scheme providing free condoms and sexual health advice to young people in Sunderland has seen a 38% boost in take-up.

The ‘C-Card’ scheme provides a confidential service and access to contraception to anyone aged 13-24.

Currently, the public health-led scheme operates from health centres and select community venues across Sunderland.

In certain schools, school nurses can also provide access to the C-Card.

On March 14, Sunderland City Council’s Scrutiny Coordinating Committee heard an update on the scheme.

Between October and December last year, a report states, there were 776 “episodes of care” – a 38% increase on the previous three months.

According to the latest data for teenage pregnancy in Sunderland – between July and September 2017 – the rate of under 18 conceptions per 1,000 girls aged 15-17 was 28.4 – a drop from 31.6 the previous year.

Despite this, Sunderland’s teen pregnancy rate is still higher than North East (25) and England (17.9).

Coun Darryl Dixon told the meeting: “It’s nice to see a fall in teenage pregnancies and the rise in C-Card contraception services. As we all know these went absolutely the wrong way 18 months ago when we lost a lot of our providers for the C-Card services.”

Coun Dixon, chairman of the council’s Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, asked what measures council bosses were putting in place to find “alternative providers” for the CCard scheme.

Director of public health on the council, Gillian Gibson called on councillors to use their “influence” to encourage more community groups to sign up to the scheme.

She said: “We still try to get into community groups although a lot of the funding of youth groups has reduced or stopped.”

Councillors have previously raised concerns about the availability of C-Cards and city schools refusing to back the drop-in services.

For more information on the C-Card scheme, visit: ccardsunderland.co.uk.