C-card scheme
C-card is a free and confidential service, providing free condoms, advice and information to young people in Medway aged over 13 years. The C-card bears a number that is unique to you. The scheme aims to make condoms more accessible to young people and to provide you with support and information about sexual health and how to use condoms correctly.
No names
No judgement
No problem
What is C-card?
The C-card scheme gives young people quick and easy access to condoms. It also offer a safe environment where it is easy to seek advice and information about sexual health topics and relationships. C-card is a free and confidential service for people in Medway aged 13 years and over. You don’t even need to be sexually active. If you are thinking about having sex you can register and be ready.
How does it work?
To get free condoms you will need to register at a C-card registration and distribution site. Registration takes about 15 minutes. During this time a C-card worker will ask you a few questions. These will include how old you are and whether you have a boyfriend or girlfriend. You will also be shown how to use a condom properly. We do not need to know your name, but it is helpful to supply the information requested. It helps the C-card workers to understand who is using the scheme and how the service can be improved. The information you give is confidential. During registration, the C-card worker will chat with you about sexual health, relationships and where you can access other services, like testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emergency contraception. When a C-card worker is happy with your knowledge of the subject, you will be issued with a C-card – it is credit card sized and has a unique number to you. The card does not contain personal information and only allows you to get free condoms when you visit a registration and distribution site.
What’s are registration and distribution sites?
These are places where you sign up to the C-card scheme. You chat with a C-card worker and are given free condoms when you’ve signed-up. These sites also offer information and advice on other sexual health services, like testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emergency contraception. Sometimes registration sites will be temporary, such as music events, but most will be at youth clubs or centres. They also give you condoms when you show your C-card and this will be done away from other people. Detached youth teams are a good example of somewhere you can get condoms. To use these sites to get condoms, you must be registered with the scheme.
The sites
The scheme will be open during normal opening times of the sites listed below. There will be a number of trained staff at each site that can register and provide you with condoms.
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Sunlight Centre |
White Road Community Centre |
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YP2 |
GYFC |
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Davis Estate Community Centre |
Step4ward |
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Mid-Kent College |
Mid-Kent College For students attending the college. |
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Parkwood Youth Centre |
Detached youth teams |
What happens after 10 visits?
After 10 visits, you have to register for a new C-card. This allows the C-card worker to check in with you and make sure everything is going well. You may want to discuss something new. If everything is OK, you will be given a new C-card so that you can get more free condoms.
What else do I need to know? Your rights
You have the right to a non-judgemental and confidential service.
If you don’t get the kind of service you expect, you can complain to the Teenage Pregnancy Programme Manager using the contact details below.
What if I am under 16?
The law says that you are not allowed to have sex under the age of 16 years. However, some people start sexual relationships before this age. Some want to try out condoms on their own to see what they’re like. If you’re under 16, you can still access confidential support or services as long as the C-card worker believes that you are capable of fully understanding the information provided to you.
What if I’m under 13?
If you are under 13, a C-card worker cannot give you condoms. However, you can still chat with them and they can tell you where you can go to access confidential health services.
Your responsibilities
Please try to be open and honest with the C-card worker. This way they can provide you with the best possible information and advice.
The C-card worker is working to strict guidelines and occasionally may not be able to give you condoms. Please listen to why this is and how they can still help you.
Emergency contraception (the morning after pill)
Emergency contraception pills can be taken up to 72 hours after having unprotected sex but are more effective if taken in the first 24 hours. Emergency contraception is available from GPs, sexual health services or free for young people at pharmacies. Find out about participating pharmacies. For advice, contact R U Thinking? for information on sex, relationships and contraception for young people. Call 0800 28 29 30 from 7am-midnight or visit www.ruthinking.co.uk.
Where is your nearest clinic?
If you think you have a STI, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible from a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic or sexual health clinic. The service is free and confidential. They can also offer advice about:
emergency contraception;
family planning;
pregnancy testing;
sexual health;
relationships.
Sexual Health Clinic
Level 3, Green Zone
Medway Maritime Hospital
Windmill Road
Gillingham
Kent ME7 5NY
01634 825009
Elm House Clinic
15 New Road Avenue
Chatham,
Kent ME4 6BA
01634 400123
Call for an appointment or just drop in. Want to be able to get condoms somewhere convenient for you? Email yphealth@medway.gov.uk and the team will see what it can do. Remember, condoms are the only type of contraception that protects you from both unintended pregnancy and STIs. C-card is confidential. The workers won’t tell your parents or guardians, your doctor, your school or anyone else that you are using C-card unless they think you are being harmed – it’s up to you.