Milton Keynes Summer
Teenage Pregnancy
Campaign
The Place
• Unitary authority
• Most young people access city centre – NB certain
areas.
• No big budget to arrange.
• Enthusiastic commitment from multi-agency group
of workers.
The reason
• Rates had risen 2005 to 2006.
• 50% of young people in school survey knew about
location of CASH services – comparatively good,
but still leaves 50% who don’t.
• Self-assessment indicated more needed on media.
• Need to develop local links to national initiatives.
Objectives
Make personal contact with young people &
to give them information on local services.
Gain free local publicity for young people’s
CASH services through local radio & press.
The process
Joint Planning Group (TP, Connexions, Brook &
Compass – a DAAT service)
Booked venue in city centre each month – tied in
dates to national events e.g. Valentine’s Day &
Sexual Health Week.
Young people, (including young mothers), invited to
participate as peer educators.
Connexions Communications Lead worked with local
media.
Free supply of condoms secured from local
company.
The process (2)
Appropriate props secured
e.g. double bed & scarlet
bedding to link into Sexual
Health Pillow Talk messages
Male worker regularly used
demonstrator to show
correct condom use each
afternoon.
The process (3)
Guess the number of
condoms in the jar
competition held with the
jar full as the prize!
Condoms & info cards given
out in an Ruthinking bus
wallet
Ruthinking postcards given
out to young people.
The outcomes
500 bus pass holders containing condoms
given away - indicates 500 young people
more informed about local CASH services.
c250 young people watched/got involved in
condom demonstration.
Good positive local radio & press coverage,
especially for pillow talk event in sexual
health week.
The learning
Use of peer educators was effective & useful.
Used more national media materials than expected
so order plenty!
Location & timing was key – know where young
people hang around & when.
Booking early gave us the right place at the right
time – book for the year!
Successful events don’t need to be expensive but
they do need to have effective leaders to
coordinate them.
Key benefits
Raised awareness & profile of local CASH services.
Commitment from peer educators to help with
future campaign work.
Strengthened working between local agencies &
gave wider understanding of each other’s agendas.
Using national campaign materials meant we could
achieve a lot with a small budget.
Liz Knight
Teenage Pregnancy Coordinator
Milton Keynes
Liz.knight@milton-keynes.gov.uk