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The Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson, and Cllr Colleen Atkins have visited an innovative contraception and sexual health service in the town, run jointly by sexual health charities Brook and Terrence Higgins Trust. The visit on Wednesday 26 March was a chance for the Mayor Hodgson and Cllr Atkins, both of whom sit on the Bedford Borough Health & Wellbeing Board, to learn more about the service’s integrated approach to providing local prevention, testing, treatment, contraception and support services.
Mayor Hodgson and Cllr Atkins were joined by representatives from Brook and Terrence Higgins Trust, as well as local people who use the service. They were given a tour of the service, and spoke with staff about their approach to working with a range of local communities.
Bedford has the highest rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the East of England and the second highest rate of teenage pregnancy. Estimates suggest that in 2011 there were around 250 people living with HIV in the town. The Bedford sexual health centre brings together a range of services to tackle these challenges both from the centre and through outreach in the community. Brook provides services specifically for young people under 25, and Terrence Higgins Trust provides services for people of all ages.
Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said:
"Brook and Terrence Higgins Trust do fantastic work in bringing vital services together and making it as easy as possible for the people who need them to access them. We heard directly from staff about the wide range of services provided for local people, both at the centre and out in the community."
Jo Vaughan, Service Manager, Brook Bedford said:
"We were delighted to welcome the Mayor of Bedford and Cllr Atkins from the local Health and Wellbeing Board to the Brook and THT service in Bedfordshire.
"We had a very positive conversation about the services we offer, including clinical services, contraception and sexual health testing, education outreach, schools-based services, and one to one work. We look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor's office and the Health and Wellbeing board to help ensure that young people in Bedfordshire have access to the best possible sexual health services."
Adam Wilkinson, Regional Manager for Terrence Higgins Trust in the East of England, said:
“It was a pleasure to show Mayor Hodgson and Cllr Atkins round the centre, and to tell them more about the services offered locally, from HIV prevention and testing to contraceptive services. We would welcome anyone from Bedfordshire who needs advice or support around sexual health to get in touch and find out how we can help.”
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About THT
Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. THT provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups. THT campaigns for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination, and promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all.
Visit www.myhiv.org.uk, THT’S new site for everyone living with HIV in the UK, for accredited information, self management tools, interactive web services and community forums. Terrence Higgins Trust relies on donations to deliver a wide range of services. To make a donation, or to find out about everything that THT do visit www.tht.org.uk. Registered charity number: 288527
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.
Read our Strategic Plan 2017-2020 and learn more about the difference we make in our latest Success Report.
