Recent figures from the Governments Teenage Pregnancy Unit have confirmed that Oldham’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy is working.
The latest data published today shows a 32.8% reduction in teenage pregnancy since 1998, which encompasses a 13% decrease since the last data announcement a year ago.
For the second year running Oldham Teenage Pregnancy partnership has achieved the highest reduction in the North West, and this year the seventh highest reduction in the whole country.
‘We are delighted with the new figures’ said Sharon West, Oldham’s teenage pregnancy coordinator. ‘The reduction is testament to all the hard work by the partnership organisations. Over the coming years we will continue to build on this success, and to meet our national target of halving the teenage pregnancy rate by 50%.’
In the past year Oldham have:
- · Increased the number of places where young people can access free condoms, (C card scheme) ·
- Implemented a range of heightened awareness programmes ·
- Improved access to young people friendly contraception services ·
- Provided extensive staff training for those working with young people to address sexual health issues ·
- Provided sex and relationships education (SRE) to young people that are not in school
In addition we have continued to develop and support teenage parents in the borough to enable them, and their children to achieve their potential.
Oldham Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board is a multi-agency board bringing together the Local Authority, Oldham Primary Care Trust, Pennine Acute Trust, the voluntary sector, OMBC Housing Department and Positive Steps, a local independent sector organisation that delivers a range of young people’s services, including Connexions and the Youth Offending Service.
