Home About BrookBrook is 60

Brook is 60!

For sixty years, Brook has been a pioneering force, transforming lives and communities by tirelessly championing safe and accessible sexual health and wellbeing support.

Join us to celebrate our proud history and our continued fight for a world where everyone feels empowered to make decisions about their health, body and identity.

Donate to Brook See how we’re celebrating

Black and white image of a young couple overlaid on a modern image of a young man and woman standing next to each other smiling into the camera

60 years ago, Brook blazed a trail by empowering unmarried women to take charge of their sexual health at a time when it was deemed controversial. Despite fierce opposition, our founder Helen Brook refused to let stigma stand in the way of what was needed.

We want to give young people a place where they can come to discuss all of their problems of love and sex, singly or in pairs. We will not moralise but we’ll try to teach them responsibility about their sex life”

Helen Brook
Brook Founder, 1964

Visitors sitting in a Brook clinic waiting room, 1980s

Agony aunts presenting a petition to Downing Street in support of unders 16s obtaining confidential medical advice, 1985

Helen Brook with Birmingham band Fuzzbox, mid-late1980s.

L0086323 Credit: Wellcome Library, London. Wellcom

Group of young men at a sex education session, 1990s

DJ and presenter Stuart Henry visiting London Brook, 1970s

Girls having a sex ed session at a London Brook Centre, 1990s

How we’re celebrating

Panel at Book launch facing the audience

Activities & events

We’re busy putting together a fantastic schedule of events and activities, designed to celebrate the vibrancy and importance of the sexual and reproductive health sector. We want to convene the sector and experts at a pivotal time – not just for Brook – but for society as a whole.

Find out more

a brook staff member stood outside with their arms crossed looking at the camera. A sticker on the photo reads celebrating 60 years of brook

Stories of Brook

Brook has touched hundreds of thousands of lives in its 60 year history. We are sharing and celebrating stories of how Brook has helped you.

Find out more

Stories of Brook

Brook has touched hundreds of thousands of lives in its 60 year history. We are sharing and celebrating stories of how Brook has helped you. If you’ve got a story to share, we’d love to hear it.

A group were protesting outside and my mother said “why are they protesting outside a job agency?” 😂🤦‍♀️ It reinforces that Brook has always been there regardless of protests, to support women in difficult times making difficult decisions. Doing the right thing ahead of the easy way out and enabling women to retain hard won rights to choose what happens to their bodies. We don’t appreciate enough how lucky we are in this county when these choices aren’t available to everyone everywhere. Thanks and keep up the good work! — Clare

I had an amazing experience with Brook, Brook comes to my youth centre. I learnt so much from Brook, things schools were supposed to tell us and they never did. Brook provides a safe space for me. Without Brook I have no idea where all my questions would be answered. I am incredibly grateful for Brook. — Tabs

At Brook you are always met with zero judgement and so much care. I always feel like I can be completely open with the nurses, and they are so amazing. Literally has changed my life having Brook. Thank you! — Brook Bristol visitor

Whenever I come and visit the Brook clinic, I feel instantly safe and know that this is a safe space with no judgement, and all-round care. Incredibly grateful for the job everyone here does – it’s safe, friendly and protected environments like these that we need more of. — Brook Euston visitor

From the minute I walked through the door, the receptionist greeted me with a smile. Through the nurse’s calming, compassionate and caring ways, she made me feel safe, and her words and gentleness took away my shame, guilt and anxious feelings. I was not judged but cared for. Thank you to the Brook team. You are all fabulous. — Brook Cornwall visitor

The Brook team were absolutely amazing and made me feel completely comfortable discussing the subject, especially as a trans woman. — Brook Burnley visitor

My experience at Brook has been phenomenal. I’ve never felt in such safe hands. My experience from start to finish has been exactly what I needed physically and mentally. The nurse made me feel safe, judgment free, and comfortable through the whole experience. My experience at Brook has made me realise if it happens again, I’m in the best hands. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience thank you for all the amazing work you do. ❤️ — Brook Blackburn visitor

Linda and Dave sat on the grass next to one another in a black and white photos

I visited Brook in 1966

“It was a validation. There was absolutely no judgement.”

Read Linda’s story

A young person stood outside a colourful painted wall wearing a puffer coat and glasses

Two women talking sat on some stairs outdoors.

Donate £60 for 60 years

This year, millions of people in the UK will experience attacks on their sexual and reproductive rights; attacks that are shaped by, and reinforce, stigma.

Can you donate to help us fight back?

Donate to Brook

Brook through the years

1960s

1964: the first Brook service, founded by Helen Brook, opens in London. More than 500 young women visited in the first year
1966: Brook opens a service in Birmingham
1967: The Abortion Act was passed
1967: The Family Planning Act meant people who were not married could receive contraceptive advice
1968: Brook opens a service in Bristol
1969: Brook service users reach 10,000 a year

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1970s

1972: Brook launches groundbreaking 30 second cinema advert promoting safer sex
1974: Brook opens a service in Liverpool
1974: Free contraception was made available to everyone under the NHS reorganisation act
1978: Brook’s education and publications function launched

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1980s

1984: Appeal court ruling prohibits doctors from giving contraception to under 16s without parental consent
1984: The first emergency hormonal contraception pill is made available in UK pharmacies
1985: Under 16s are restored the right to access confidential medical services
1986-9: Brook opens a service in Burnley and Milton Keynes
1989: HRH The Princess Royal visits Brook to celebrate its 25th anniversary

1990s

1992: Brook opens in Belfast and Eccles
1993-4: Brook services open in Birkenhead, Sandwell, Cornwall, Blackburn, Oldham and Jersey
1995: Helen Brook is awarded a CBE
1996: Brook services open in Manchester and Inverness
1997: Helen Brook CBE dies aged 89
1997: Brook opens a service in Wigan
1999: Implanon contraceptive implant was introduced
1999: Brook opens a service in Euston

Hand holding implant (small rod) between thumb and first finger

2000s

2000: The DFE publishes Sex and Relationship Education guidance
2001: Government publishes national strategy for sexual health and HIV
2003: The contraceptive patch becomes available in the UK
2005 The Civil Partnership act is implemented in the UK
2008-9: Brook opens services in Luton and Bedford

2010-16

2012: Brook takes over education charity Education for Choice
2013: Brook’s 16 separate charities are merged into one
2014: Brook celebrates 50 years and announces an expansion into wellbeing services
2016: Brook launches Brook Learn, an online learning platform
2016 Brook opens an education and outreach service in Teesside

A person sat at a desk doing a Brook Learn training course on the computer about the reproductive system

2018

Brook launches Let’s Talk. Period in partnership with Plan International UK, to address period stigma through education and free product provision
Abortion is decriminalised in the Republic of Ireland following the successful referendum campaign to repeal the 8th amendment of the Irish constitution

2019

Brook expands into all-age services with a new service in Cornwall
Brook Cymru opens to provide education services
The DfE publishes mandatory Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education guidance
Brook delivers its first Sexual Health Week
Brook is commissioned to deliver 1:1 education and wellbeing support to boys and young men in Sunderland

Brook and Mencap education session, 2018

2020

Brook continues delivering frontline clinical services through the Covid-19 pandemic when many services closed their doors
Brook launches its first all-age health promotion contract in South London to transform the sexual health of Black and minority ethnic groups
7,500 people tune into Brook’s first ever Big RSE Lesson Live
Brook launches a new digital PSHE curriculum

An ipad showing the PSHE curriculum page on Brook Learn

2021

Brook intervenes in the Bell V Tavistock appeal to defend young people’s rights
Brook establishes new Participation Forums
Brook launches new all age services in Southend and Blackburn
Brook begins delivering HIV support services in Blackburn with Darwin in partnership with Renaissance
Brook expands its HIV Prevention service to London Borough of Barnet

2022

The Welsh Government implements the new Relationships and Sexuality Education Code
Brook wins a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award
Brook launches a health promotion and education service in Buckinghamshire
Brook launches an online Risk of Pregnancy Calculator
Brook is awarded funding from the DHSC to deliver the Cornwall Menopause project

2023 Pt1

Brook publishes new three-year strategy with a focus on fighting stigma, accessible services for neurodivergent young people and increasing early intervention mental health support
Brook joins Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS trust to deliver an integrated sexual health and wellbeing service in partnership with Positively UK
Brook launches a contraception choice tool, endorsed by the Faculty of Reproductive and Sexual Health

2023 Pt2

Brook Dudley expands to support an all-age audience, with a Digital Front Door to services
Brook launches a community sexual health promotion, HIV prevention and support service in Dudley, in partnership with The What Centre.
Brook launches its pledge for Relationships and Sex Education, signed by more than 130 sector partners
Brook is awarded an NHS grant to support 90 schools in London to address sexual violence

2024 Pt1

Brook joins the IPPF as its UK member
Brook opens its first ever wellbeing hubs in Cornwall and Blackburn
Brook mobilises its largest ever mental health and wellbeing contract in Central Bedfordshire
Brook is awarded funding to educate around pornography and misogyny in Wales

2024 Pt2

Brook opens in Thurrock
Book on the early history of Brook is published by Dr Caroline Rusterholz
Brook celebrates its 60th anniversary with a roaming pop-up exhibition and a rolling calendar of events