The C-Card Scheme is designed to increase the availability and acceptability of free condoms amongst under 25s in Brighton and Hove, and to use free condoms as an entry point to talk to young people about sexual health and contraception. Although it is open to all young poeple, the scheme is specifically targeted to vulnerable youths and populations.

Through the scheme, young people are given access to free condoms after they had an initial consultation with a sexual health promotion specialist / practitioner at one of the designated C-Card outlets.

During the initial consultation, the practitioner and young person talk to one another about sexual health issues, contraception, sexual readiness, sexual safety, std / sti information and condom knowledge. At the end of the consultation, the young person is issued a C-Card and given a safer sex pack (with six condoms, lube, and a sexual health information leaflet).

Once they have been issued their C-Cards, young people can collect up to seven safer sex packs at any of the 100 designated C-Card outlets or pick-up points. This is a "no-questions asked" policy: when a young person has a C-Card, he / she sholud be given a safer-sex pack. Outlets and pick-up points include youth organisations, CASH clinics, SWAY clinics, pharmacies, GPs etc.

The C-Card training session is designed to engage and prepare practitioners, educators, nurses, volunteers, or other front-line workers who will be required to conduct the initial C-Card consultations and / or safer issue safer sex packs.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The three-hour session will:-

• Provide basic information about the scheme
• Update workers' sexual health information
• Prepare workers to conduct an initial consult
• Talk to workers about making safer sexy
• Offer workers the opportunity to ask questions about delivery of the scheme
• Provide opportunities to link C-Card assessments  / delivery to Chlamydia screening

You should only take this session if you are a worker or volunteer who will be implementing the scheme in your place of work.

Training sessions are held bi-monthly and are free of charge.

To book your place on one of these courses, please call the Training Administrator on 01273 545406 or e-mail her at liz.hegarty@bhcpct.nhs.uk.