The voice of young people’s
sexual health and wellbeing
Changing attitudes.
Challenging prejudices.
Championing equality.
We fight tirelessly every day for the rights of young people.
Our vision
Brook wants a society where all young people are free to be themselves.
The reality is that societal stigma limits young people’s ability to take control of their sexual health, enjoy healthy relationships and explore their identities. We are committed to changing attitudes, challenging prejudices and championing equality so that all young people can lead happy, healthy lives.
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FeaturedLet’s Talk. Period: 5 Key Learnings
Brook’s Let’s Talk. Period project launched in October 2018, working to tackle period poverty in 7 areas across England. Education Manager, Ruby Stevenson, highlights our 5 key takeaways from this essential work. For the last 18 months, Brook has been running the Let’s Talk. Period project in partnership with Plan International UK to tackle period… Read more
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FeaturedCOVID-19: Brook’s agile response requires urgent Government support
Brook’s Chief Executive Helen Marshall celebrates the rapid response of Brook staff, and calls for a better support package for third sector frontline services at this critical time.
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FeaturedCOVID-19: we cannot ignore the needs of those who menstruate
Lota Bantić and Catherine Gabell of Brook’s Let’s Talk Period team explain why the current pandemic shouldn’t silence the conversation around period poverty, and why now more than ever we must fight to ensure period products are accessible.
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FeaturedCOVID-19: Why we must talk about sexual health
Brook’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Lisa Hallgarten, highlights some key steps you can take to protect your sexual and reproductive health during COVID-19, as well as Brook’s key asks for the Government to avert a sexual health crisis. Staying at home during a lockdown sounds like the safest kind of sex – in… Read more
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Featured40 Day for Life: why we need to tackle abortion stigma
Brook’s Media and Communications Officer, Eliza Bell, writes on the harmful and hypocritical nature of the 40 Days for Life Campaign and why it’s a stark reminder that providing abortions is not enough – we must fight stigma at its root.
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FeaturedPHE Innovation Fund: Welcome to Brook
Brook is delighted to have secured funding through the 2020 PHE Innovation Fund to develop a new digital tool to triage young people in our waiting rooms. Below, Director of Digital & Communications, Laura Hamzic, describes how the idea behind the project was developed. The reality is that societal stigma still limits young people’s ability to take… Read more
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FeaturedKeeping young people safe online
For Safer Internet Day, Kelly Harris, Business Development Lead for Brook’s expansion work into Wales uses her 15+ years of experience working with young people to discuss the importance of staying safe online. The internet is a brilliant and innovative space which is constantly evolving – giving us the opportunity to meet new people from… Read more
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FeaturedFree Period Products: Just the Bloody Start!
Terri Harris, Education and Wellbeing Specialist for Brook’s Let Talk. Period project, highlights the successes and shortcomings of the Department for Education’s period poverty scheme that will see free products available in schools and colleges in England.
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FeaturedTackling STI stigma through education
Brook Education and Wellbeing Specialist, Amber Newman-Clark, explains why relationships and sex education about STIs needs to do better than using scare tactics and is key to breaking down stigma and opening up conversation.
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FeaturedAccessible sexual health images for all
Dean Milner-Bell is Accessible Information Designer at easy on the i, creating images and resources including leaflets, brochures, banners, etc. as well as running the website, image bank and image request service. He also provides a commissioned design service, supporting any organisation to create their own accessible information. He tells us what lead him to… Read more
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FeaturedLet’s talk about sex: ending STI stigma
Following a herpes diagnosis, Rukiat Ashawe had to confront her own shame around STIs and in doing so realised we need to provide better sex education for young people. As a sex educator, she is determined to de-stigmatise sex and sexual health.
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FeaturedMandatory RSE: welcome but flawed
Brook’s Head of Education, Dougie Boyd, writes on the advent of mandatory RSE in September 2020. He tells us that while definitely welcome and long overdue, the legislation remains fundamentally flawed.
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FeaturedConsent: why education needs to be nuanced
Dr Elsie Whittington discusses teaching young people about consent, and why we have to take a more nuanced approach in education.
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FeaturedTalking to teenagers about consent and pleasure
Education and Wellbeing Specialist, Lota Bantić, explains why teaching young people about consent and pleasure is an essential component of Relationships and Sex Education, and gives some tips for if you’re approaching these topics for the first time.
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FeaturedGeneral Election 2019: Brook’s priorities for a new government
As the nation prepares to drag itself to the polling station for the fourth time in as many years, the media are adding to our ennui by telling us that whatever the party manifestos say this is just a ‘Brexit Election’ *sigh*.
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FeaturedRelationships and Sex Education in Cornwall
Hatty Lawrence, Education and Wellbeing Specialist for the Brook Education Team in Cornwall, tells us what motivated her to work in sexual health and why the work Brook does in Cornwall is so valuable. As a trained nurse I have long wanted to work with young people in the sexual health field. I became aware… Read more
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FeaturedOnline testing: a new way to look after your sexual health
Our first digitally-led service in partnership with SH:24 launches in Cornwall in December. In anticipation of this we hear from Alicia Thornton, Public Health Registrar, about how online testing works and why it holds unique benefits in the context of a diverse population with varying accessibility requirements. Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is… Read more
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FeaturedLiverpool’s Young MP fighting for period equality
17 year old Eva Carroll is a member of the UK Youth Parliament, Former Young Lord Mayor of Liverpool, and an ambassador for Plan International UK. Eva dreams of a period positive and equal world and has pledged to end period poverty and stigma as part of her campaign
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FeaturedA week in the life of a menstrual health educator…
Terri Harris, Education & Wellbeing Specialist for Brook in Bristol, fights tirelessly every day to challenge period stigma and bust myths so that young people feel empowered to take control of their menstrual health. This is a week in Terri’s shoes…
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FeaturedLet’s Talk. Period
Brook’s Let’s talk. Period project is committed to tackling period poverty in England. The project launched in Oct 2018 with seven teams across England, providing vulnerable young people with period products and education.
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FeaturedWelcome to the Vagina Museum
With the Vagina Museum set to open its doors officially on 16 November, Development and Marketing Manager, Zoe Williams, tells us what the inspiration was behind the museum; the roadblocks they’ve faced along the way; and why a physical space dedicated to learning about vaginas and vulvas is a necessity.
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FeaturedThe North is Today: Two Weeks On
Two weeks on from the historic victory for women’s rights in Northern Ireland, Naomi Connor, Co-Convenor of Alliance for Choice, tells us what abortion decriminalisation means in reality and why the battle isn’t over yet.
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FeaturedBrook Cymru
In July this year Brook welcomed Kelly Harris, Business Development Lead / Arweinydd Datblygu Busnes, to lead the expansion of our education services in Wales. Here Kelly shares details of the official launch event.
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FeaturedA letter to my assaulter
Jess, 25, writes an open letter to the person who assaulted her at 15.
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FeaturedThe North is Now!
At midnight on 21 October 2019, abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in an historic victory for women’s reproductive health. Lisa Hallgarten explains how we got here.
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FeaturedWe need to talk about vulvas
Brook’s lead clinical champion, 25 year-old Caitlin Gorman, writes of her experience of the shame and stigma that still surrounds young people’s bodies – both in her professional and personal life – and how we can combat this.
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FeaturedNo Health Without Mental Health
Brook’s Head of Innovation and Partnerships, Helen Corteen, shares her experience of the inextricable link between sexual and mental health.
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FeaturedContraception: a battle yet to be won
For World Contraception Day, Brook’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Lisa Hallgarten, writes of the immense progress made towards access to contraception, as well as the work still to be done.
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Featured
Relationships, sex and disability
This week is Brook’s first Sexual Health Week and we’re proud to be working closely with Mencap to change the dialogue around relationships, sex and learning disability. We spoke to Ellen, the co-chair of Mencap’s sexuality and relationships steering group, about why her work is so important. Can you tell us a bit about the sexuality… Read more
About Brook
Brook creates safe, open, positive spaces where young people can speak freely. We provide platforms to amplify voices, empower choice and build confidence.
Drawing on 55 years experience, Brook delivers a unique blend of clinical services, education and training programmes, counselling and an online hub for sex and relationships advice.
We provide practical and trusted expertise, based on what young people tell us they want and need.
We fight tirelessly every day for young people’s right to inclusive education and to protect their sexual health services. We are committed to changing attitudes, challenging prejudices and championing equality so that all young people can lead happy, healthy lives.
