what we do
meet the women we work with
Lindsey
I fell pregnant at 18 and now have two children. I’ve been coming to Platform 51 for a few years and this has given me the confidence and drive to do a BTEC in sexual health. I teach sexual health education in schools and volunteer at the Family Nurse Partnership.
I took part in a summer scheme where I worked with young people. I loved this and found I worked really well with this age range.
With Platform 51’s support, I teach students about sexual health and relationship education (SRE). It’s so important to teach sex education to young people in a realistic way they can understand. I want to fill all the gaps that I found when it came to sex education. Young people need to be able to talk about sex in a safe environment.
In the sessions, I talk about my experiences as a young mum. I tell them that it’s not easy and it does change your life; it’s something that needs commitment. Having a kid at a young age isn’t a fashion statement, it’s not about getting a council flat - far from it. I want them to be sure that when they make decisions about sex and relationships they are informed decisions.
We talk about how assertiveness and self esteem can affect relationships, how relationships can be healthy or unhealthy and how you need to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections. It’s less biological and more about showing them they have the right to say 'no'.
I’ve recently started volunteering with the Family Nursing Partnership who work with teenage mums from when they’re 16 weeks pregnant to when their child is two and a half years old. It’s great that other teen mums can get this support. I volunteer on the board to advise them on the needs of teen mums.
I'm now looking for a career in youth work as I find it so rewarding.
Find out how your support can help young women like Lindsey here.
fact
Teenage mothers have far fewer job prospects, because they often have to cut short their education or training.
fact
Research has shown that negative images of young mums put forward by politicians and the media have a damaging effect on how young mums are treated by the public and by professionals.
cass says
“A lot of people think young girls get pregnant because they can't be bothered to use protection or are ignorant about it. But teenagers are just like anyone else. Mistakes happen. Life would be much easier for young mums if there was more understanding and respect.”
volunteer
Volunteering for Platform 51 is a great way for you to share your skills or develop new ones while contributing to the valuable work we do with girls and young women.
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