Learning from practice

Sports centres and youth clubs in Bolton, Hackney, Northumberland and Portsmouth are to offer teenagers health advice and information, as part of a pilot programme to get more adolescents interested in their own health.

The Teenage Health Demonstration Sites Programme will offer teenagers access to specially trained advisers, who can provide information on pregnancy, social and emotional development, obesity, drugs and smoking.

Adolescent life checks will also be piloted during the programme. These will assess a young person’s lifestyle risks and help them to make healthier choices.

The programme will run from 1 November 2006 until 31 October 2008.

Speaking at the launch at the Reebok Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said:
"Improving the health and wellbeing of teenagers and getting them interested in their own health is one of our biggest challenges. The programme I am launching today will help us reach out to adolescents in surroundings that they are comfortable in to deliver more accessible, user-friendly services. Health professionals who are trained to meet the needs of young people will be on hand to address the issues that concern teenagers such as pregnancy, social and emotional development, obesity, drugs and smoking. "

"By gaining a better understanding of teenagers' needs and concerns, and consolidating our knowledge of what works, we hope to help to improve the public health of teenagers, including those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds and those from ethnic minority groups."

Bolton Wanderers Football Club Chief Executive, Allan Duckworth said: "Bolton Wanderers Football Club is delighted to support and be involved in this scheme, which we feel fits in well with the health and lifestyle initiatives we encourage through the Club. By working closely with the Primary Care Trust, Bolton can help promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle in the town."

Margaret Clugston, Lead Nurse at the Parallel Young People's Health Centre said: "The Parallel team are enthusiastic and excited by the opportunity to widen the availability of services for young people in Bolton as one of the Teenage Health Demonstration sites. It will be a chance to work creatively in partnership with, for example Bolton Wanderers and local youth services, to support young people to make healthier lifestyle choices and to provide them with better access to community based services that meet their needs."

Matt Morton, Chair of Young People's Steering Group at the Parallel Young Person's Health Centre said: "The Parallel provides the sort of welcoming environment, friendly and helpful staff and reliable service that young people feel comfortable with. We appreciate the fact that we are given choice over things like when to involve parents. Personally I feel confident that staff here will work together and communicate well with other agencies to resolve any problems I might face."

Each of the areas involved will pilot adolescent Life Checks, one of the commitments in the Our Health, Our Care, Our Say White Paper.

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