Knowsley teenage pregnancy scheme awarded

Knowsley teenage pregnancy scheme awarded

Knowsley has beaten off strong competition from around the UK to scoop a top prize in the 2007 Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards.

Knowsley won the Reducing Health Inequalities Achievement of the Year Award for The Young Women’s Teenage Pregnancy Project which is credited with reducing the teenage pregnancy rate in North Huyton by up to 32%.

The Project is a partnership between Knowsley PCT, Knowsley Council, North Huyton New Deal for Communities, North Huyton Sure Start and the Youth and Play Service.

The project offers one to one interventions to raise self esteem and offer information and advice, around 4000 contacts with young people have been made.

The successful initiative has been used as the model for the Sexual Health Outreach Team, which provides youth work and clinical interventions across Knowsley.

Children’s Champion Cllr Christine O’Hare said: “It was fantastic to receive this award and I think it is a great example of the power of partnership working. I’d like to congratulate everyone involved and to thank them for all their hard work.

But the people who will really benefit from this award are local young people who can rest assured that in Knowsley they have access to the best sexual health services and advice.”

The project was jointly funded for two years by North Huyton New Deal for Communities and North Huyton Sure Start, which was then taken forward as the blueprint for the long term Borough-wide provision by KPCT.

This is the second year running that Knowsley has won this category at the MJ awards, the PITSTOP men’s health programme being the winner last year.

source : aboutknowsley.typepad.com