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Young women in care are massively over-represented in the figures for teenage pregnancies. The Hearsex project is using care leavers to provide advice on sex education in children's homes. Graham Hopkins reports.

The shock of Britain leading Europe on teenage pregnancy rates jolted the government into action. As usual, it's the socially excluded that are overwhelmingly included in such statistics. For example, by age 16, one in four young women in care is pregnant.

As a society we have historically fumbled our way in making an awkward bed for sex education to lie in. This truism is being challenged by the Hearsex project, which is providing advice and information on body changes, relationships, contraception, infections, pregnancy and safer sex to young people aged over 11 in residential care in Birmingham. And it is training care leavers not only to provide the service but also to qualify as BTEC peer educators.

As nearly three-quarters of those leaving care at 16 do so without qualifications, compared with 4 per cent of the population as a whole, this double whammy of educational achievement and providing a service has given the 10 young people involved, aged 16-21, immense self-esteem and confidence, says June Thompson, the BTEC co-ordinator.

Chantelle Gordon, aged 18, working towards her BTEC, believes that having been in care herself helps: "I think in some senses children in social services have problems talking to or trusting adults - so this is a way around it.

"When I was at school, we had what we used to call the Tampax Lady," she continues. "We watched a video and had one session where we had to put condoms on bananas. But I never had the information I have now when I was younger. Adults would tell you things in technical terms because they wouldn't know what the new lingo for those things was. Young people don't see us as a threat, they see us on their level - and they're more at ease because it's young people talking to them."

However, Dean Sharpe, 18, one of two young people who obtained his BTEC last year and who accompanies and supports Chantelle on her visits to care homes, believes age is not always a winning factor. "It can help but they also say 'well you're the same age as us or a bit older, so what do you know?' so it can work the other way."

None the less, Dean is optimistic that his qualification will count for something: "I am hoping to do some work with young people and also voluntary work with Healthy Gay Life to gain more experience and use the skills I obtained in my BTEC," he says.

Subjects covered have not been restricted to sexual health matters and the risk factors. "It's also about drugs and bullying, and relationships, which are very important for people in the care system because relationships are usually brief," says Thompson.

Hearsex is concentrating on Birmingham's 28 children's homes for now. "We're not getting into foster care. We have a backlog of referrals at the moment," says Gayner Miller, co-ordinator for Hearsex.

Louise Bessant, who manages the project, says that young mothers were targeted and four recruited for the course: "They do enjoy doing something and getting out of the house," she adds.

Young people in care choose whether to attend the sessions, which are always evaluated. The forms list words to best describe the session: "Chillin, Wicked, Cool, Sorted, Embarrassing, Boring, Crap, Stupid." Responses have been very positive, with young people learning to "feel good about myself", "always wear protection" and "chill out about my body". Thirty-three young people out of 43 have asked for more sessions. Wicked, indeed.

"I think that when you leave the care system, you want to leave that behind and get on with your future," adds Chantelle. "But you can show young people that you can succeed, that's it's okay to be in the care system, that there's nothing wrong. I like to see myself as a role model. We're evidence that people can succeed."

And success can be very healthy. Just like sex, in fact.

Background

SCHEME: Hearsex project - care leavers providing information and support on sexual health for young people in care.

LOCATION: Birmingham.

STAFFING: Co-ordinator and development worker (both half-time posts).

INSPIRATION: Part of carrying out the sexual health strategy.

COST: About £30,000.

Resources

- For more information on Hearsex call Gayner Miller on 0121 464 1229

- A free information pack is available. For more on BTEC accreditation call UK Youth on 0207 242 4045