Ask Brook to become a digital-only service

Published: 17 June 2016

Ask Brook, Brook’s national text and webchat helpline, will become a new digital service on 1st August 2016 as part of the organisation’s investment in digital tools for young people.

Ask Brook has been providing information, support and signposting to young people since 1995. First launched as a telephone helpline, Ask Brook was established in response to the high volume of enquiries received by the Brook head office from young people looking for information and support.

The decision to move to a digital-service is part of Brook’s commitment to better respond to young people’s changing needs 

It also supports Brook’s strategy to build digital capability within local services, as we will be devolving webchat provision to a number of Brook services across the UK.

Helen Marshall, Brook’s Chief Executive said:

The Ask Brook service is adapting to what we know young people want and have been requesting. We will continue to invest in our innovative digital tools – such as the Ask Brook 24/7 tool - which was developed in to support young people with the issues on which we know they ask our help”

The text service will close on 31st July and an auto-response will be applied to ensure young people are appropriately redirected.

The webchat service will be rolled out initially in selected local services over the coming months.

Brook will be working closely with other charities and helplines to ensure that young people continue to be signposted and supported appropriately.

For media enquiries please contact Brook's press office on 07789 682831 or email press@brook.org.uk

Notes to editors

Brook believes that young people should have access to great sexual health services and wellbeing support.

Brook provides free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and education programmes, reaching nearly 235,000 young people nationwide every year.
 
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