Bus posters have teenage appeal

What to do about pregnancy – how to get free help

This week Enfield Council and its health and education partners are launching a lively poster campaign directed at teenage girls who may accidentally become pregnant.

The posters appear inside buses on routes used by many Enfield schools. They are designed to appeal directly to teenagers and they pull no punches.

Andrew Fraser who chairs the Teenage Pregnancy Board, said, “We have to accept that we have a problem. Since we started to gather figures in 1998 teenage pregnancy in the borough has risen 19% from 45 - 55 births per thousand – despite a great deal of work and advice.

“This campaign offers advice and information and it is just the start of a planned approach to good sexual health among girls and boys.”

The posters show a series of telephone text messages between two friends. One thinks she might be pregnant and texts her friend Gemma.

Gemma replies telling her not to worry – but to go to the various websites where she can find out for free about emergency contraception (the ‘morning after pill’) and get free help.

“Of course we want teenagers to avoid getting pregnant since research shows that life chances for themselves and for their babies are very much affected. We want positive outcomes for all our young people,” Andrew continued.

Cllr Glynis Vince, cabinet member for education, children’s services and youth, added, “This campaign gets to grips with the issues and speaks to youngsters in a direct way that they will readily understand. We are keen to reach as many young people as possible.”

The campaign will appear on the buses for 12 weeks – and later on the JC Decaux poster sites around the borough and at selected bus shelters.

This document was last updated on 2008-11-11 16:32:43 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_133532