Focus
is to improve the health and wellbeing of Ritchie says that COZ works because uncomfortable addressing the issue of
young people through the provision of a it accepts that those choices are the under-age sex, could the bigger problem
range of “young people centred” health young people’s to make, and the staff ’s be that many simply find it hard to talk
and development services, such as a role is to help and support them to come about sex full stop?
health clinic offering confidential medi- to informed decisions. “That, and we “Some adults find it very difficult
cal services and a drop-in service with make sure we ask them how they want to talk about sex,” agrees Sue Maxwell,
access to information and advice. us to do that rather than just assume it,” Relationships Scotland, “and it is begin-
“We consulted with young people she adds. ning to show in their health.”
on everything,” says Ritchie, “from the While giving evidence to the Scottish Statistics released by ISD Scotland in
services it should offer, the layout, to Parliament’s Justice Committee on the July showed that some sexual diseases are
the colours on the walls. It really is their Sexual Offences Bill, Children’s Com- now increasing at a faster rate among the
place.” missioner Kathleen Marshall said she over-35s than in younger people. They
The main space in the centre is a was pleased to see that Children’s 1st had found that rates of syphilis are increasing
large open-plan living area that includes consulted service users at COZ as part at a faster rate among older men than
a computer suite with free internet access of their submission for the Bill. However, in the under-20s – 31 times in the over-
and a café where the young people can she added that she would also like to see 35s in the past decade, compared to nine
get a free hot meal. Behind the scenes the Scottish Government making more time in under-20s - with similar patterns
are the medical clinic and counselling of an effort to engage and consult with repeated for gonorrhoea and herpes in
rooms. As well as the drop-in service, the young people. older women.
centre also runs health campaigns raising Marshall said to Holyrood, “One of Why?
awareness of issues such as breast can- my greatest concerns about the Bill was “When Respect and Responsibil-
cer, and runs support groups on issues that people were supporting or not sup- ity was introduced three years ago, the
such as self-harm and LGBT issues. porting the law on the basis of what they whole focus of the strategy was solely on
Furthermore, while much of what the assumed young people’s motivations under-25s as they were deemed to be the
service does is related to sexual health, were. most at-risk group,” Maxwell explains.
the centre also offers classes in anger “Some argued that the current law “However, with divorce rates and
management, careers advice, and food might help young people resist peer pres- relationship breakdown on the increase,
preparation. sure and if it was decriminalised, would people in their 30s are often finding
Ritchie says it truly is a unique ser- we deprive them of that useful argu- themselves in the process of changing
vice that is guided by what the young ment and push them into under-age sex? relationships and in that sense, they are
people say is most useful to them. Alternatively, would it put them off seek- much more vulnerable.”
“Some of the young people told us ing sexual health advice? All these argu- She continues, “Quite frequently, if
that they didn’t want to make appoint- ments were being had but no one had they have been in a long-term relation-
ments or have to speak with designated asked young people. ship they haven’t had to negotiate safe
members of staff. They wanted to “I think we need to have a wider sex. They might not know how to talk
choose who they wanted to speak to,” and substantive consultation with young about issues like contraception with a
she explains. “So all of our staff are people to get their views and help us new partner. Or they might be at the
trained to give advice.” understand the reality of young people’s stage of their life when they are no lon-
She continues, “Others did want to lives.” ger concerned about fertility so don’t
set up appointments but didn’t want to As such, she says she wants to see think condoms are necessary. So there is
have to come in through the front door a commitment from the Government a need to teach them that sexual health
in view of everyone. So there is access to to having a “robust” consultation with is their responsibility, whatever age they
the clinic round the back.” young people before the Bill progresses are.”
“My brother used to come here to further. There is also, she says, a need to
get free condoms so he told me about it,” While, Marshall’s own response to make sure that that information is being
says one teenage service user. “I’d rather the Bill caused a media storm, prompt- given to older people.
come here than have to sit in the doc- ing headlines such as, “Marshall: Let “With people in their 60s, it is often
tor’s waiting room with everyone looking 13-year-olds have sex,” she says the truth assumed that they will have no sexual
at me.” behind her comments was less sensa- function and so will have no sexual
“You can come here and talk to them
But w
null
hat
tional but no less newsworthy. health needs, they become asexual, in
about anything, really,” explains another. does love “I think I gave a principled response some people’s eyes.
“I wouldn’t want to ask my teacher about
mean?
that was completely manipulated,” she “But this is, after all, the flower-
some of the stuff I can ask here. says. power generation and with things like
“And it’s good because it’s not like
some of the other places that just give
null
“It is frustrating because there is a Viagra and lifestyle changes, people
very serious debate here that I think gets are seeing their sex lives extended, so it
out free condoms and then send you to siphoned down sinister routes that don’t is very important that they are getting
the doctors if you’ve got any other ques- reflect the truth of the matter, and pres- those safe sex messages too.”
tions. You can talk to them here about sures people and blinds them to what the As such, she says she would like to
what different types of contraceptives real issues are.” see older people’s relationships and sexu-
there are, and they can give you the pill But was the media’s response indica- ality back on the agenda.
or the injection if you want that instead. tive of a more serious underlying prob- “It is not just about young people’s
It’s your choice.” lem? For while many adults are clearly relationships. It doesn’t matter what age
| www.holyrood.com | Holyrood magazine | 17 November 2008 |
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