TEENAGERS will be given a special card to allow them to pick up free condoms in Worcestershire as part of a scheme to reduce sexual transmitted infections.

The C-Card entitles them to access free condoms from locations including youth and Connexions centres across the county.

Once a young person has visited a pick-up point 10 times, they are then required to have another discussion to ensure they are still safe and the scheme is still meeting their needs.

The scheme has been launched by Worcestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership and allows young people up to the age of 19 to receive confidential advice and information about their sexual health, as well as contraception, from more than 24 new outlets across the county.

They secure the card once they have had a confidential discussion about their sexual health with a trained professional. The discussion will include advice about delaying sexual activity until they are ready; safe sex when they do feel ready; sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and condom use.

Once the young person has had this discussion, and if agreed by both the young person and the trained professional, the young person will be given a C-Card.

Coun Liz Eyre, lead member for children and young people at Worcestershire County Council, said: “It is an important part of the Worcestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership to ensure that all young people across the county have access to confidential and free sexual health services.

“The C-Card is not about encouraging young people to become sexually active. It’s about supporting young people with their sexual health needs, and providing them with the skills, information and knowledge to enable them to make positive informed choices for themselves.”

The scheme has been set up in-line with national guidance from the Your Welcome Criteria published by the Department of Health.

It forms part of the Government’s drive to reduce unplanned teenage conceptions, sexual transmitted infections (STIs), reduce health inequalities and ensure information is given in an easy-to-understand format on a range of sexual health issues.