Sexual health - the last forty years

1994 – 2003

Brook continued to expand and innovate during the late 1990s. Six new centres opened and Brook also launched its first website and freephone helpline. Innovative outreach and education projects run by Brook Centres in local schools and other youth settings also grew during this period, continuing to widen Brook’s contact with hard to reach groups. Nationally the launch of the Teenage Pregnancy Unit and the publication of the Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual Health Strategies consolidated the Government’s efforts to improve the sexual health of the nation.

1994

• Brook Centres opened in Blackburn, Oldham and Jersey

1995 

• Helen Brook awarded CBE for services to family planning
• Studies linked the third generation pill to a slightly increased risk of thrombosis and sensational media coverage caused widespread panic

1996 

• Visits by Brook clients aged 16-19 years fell by 25% following the pill scare, and teenage pregnancies and abortion rates increased
• Brook Centres opened in Manchester and Inverness
• Helen Brook died

1997

• Brook Centre opened in Wigan

1998

• Sir Robin Brook, campaigner and husband of Brook founder Helen, died

1999 

• Brook young people’s freephone helpline launched
• Teenage Pregnancy Unit set up to co-ordinate work across government departments
• Teenage Pregnancy Strategy set target to halve under 18 pregnancy rate by 2010

2000

• Brook launched its first website

2001

• Government published the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV
• Brook Edinburgh became Caledonia Youth

2002 

• Brook’s confidential online enquiry service, Ask Brook, launched via its re-developed website

2003

• Brook freephone helpline received accreditation from the Telephone Helplines Association
• Teenage pregnancy rate fell for the third consecutive year