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Brook’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Lisa Hallgarten, highlights Brook’s key asks for the new Government.
In the 2019 general election, both the main parties offered an ‘end to austerity’. Unfortunately, meaningful government investment in our threadbare public services never materialised.
This year, both parties are talking again about meagre uplifts in spending or even further cuts. This is hugely concerning at a time when our Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Children’s Social Care are overwhelmed and understaffed.
It bodes badly for sexual and reproductive health, which has already suffered years of cuts amid concerning rises in STIs rates and reports of an increase in unintended pregnancies resulting from the postcode lottery of waiting times for the most effective Long Acting Reversible Contraception methods.
In 2024, the Government has invested funding for young people’s mental health hubs in a limited number of areas. We hope the incoming Government will continue and expand this investment to ensure every young person can take advantage of accessible in person support in their local area.
We welcomed the launch of the Women’s Health Strategy in 2022, which aims to address a range of neglected issues in women’s health.
Legislation to allow telemedicine abortion is another key success of the last Government: an evidence-based intervention that supports earlier, simpler access to abortion.
We ask the new Government:
To actively seek out the voices of young people and the input of expert stakeholders to inform a new evidence-based review process to shape revised RSHE guidance.
To work closely with the sector to develop a plan to ensure high quality RSHE for all children and young people which is:
and which would include:
For an immediate moratorium on abortion investigations and prosecutions.
To reverse cuts to public health budgets.
To invest in community sexual and reproductive health services, GP provision, and pharmacy to provide accessible, in person and digital, young people friendly, universal as well as tailored and targeted, comprehensive SRH services to meet the needs of the whole population.
To initiate an urgent plan to take abortion out of the criminal law.
To work closely with key stakeholders and expert organisations to develop a comprehensive, holistic strategy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in England which would:
To commit to a fully funded, cross departmental, nationally led, and locally implemented young people’s health strategy addressing prevention and promoting good physical and mental health.
To invest sufficiently in all the people and places young people can get information, advice and support with their health including: schools and school nursing, the play and youth services, mental health hubs, specialist health services for young people, children’s social care, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and primary care .
To invest in young people so that they can become effective advocates; and ensure they have a greater role in shaping education, youth work, healthcare and community life.
Brook works closely with other organisations that champion sexual and reproductive health and rights and improving the health and wellbeing of young people.
We endorse the manifestos of these organisations:
Finally, we want to make a plea for the next Government to understand the value that the voluntary sector brings to promoting and supporting good health.
Many charities can ‘reach the parts’ that statutory services cannot reach. We are flexible and innovative, and bring brilliant insights and knowledge to policy-making and service delivery.
Listen to us. Involve us. Fund us.
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.
Brook has signed a letter to express our concern over two forthcoming prosecutions for illegal abortion. We do not believe it is in the public interest to prosecute a woman who has…
Matt Rigby, Head of Digital, explains how our National Consultation has helped shape digital innovation by clarifying the role of online services in improving access to sexual health care for…