Brief Description

Teenage mothers and young fathers are employed and trained as peer educators so that pupils aged 13-17 years old in schools recognise the signs of Child Sexual Exploitation domestic abuse, grooming and coercion, the consequences of sexting, dangers of knife crime and gang culture and the realities of teenage parenthood. Programmes are designed by the young parents themselves who have experienced these issues.  Our approach is innovative, viewing teenage parents as valuable members of our community, capable and resilient, who have skills and experiences benefiting the community.  The charity offers a supportive community to mitigate isolation and share common issues; debt, abuse. During this crisis, young parents are in lock-down with toddlers, without family, raising stress levels, domestic abuse and lower income. They will create mutual support through social media and  online material to deliver in schools thus reducing isolation and maintaining income.

Vision & Mission

Our vision is to;
reduce high rates of teenage pregnancy in the UK 
enable young people to recognise and challenge abusive behaviour 
understand the implications of sexting 
support and empower young people to achieve economic well-being & quality of life.
Mission;
Straight Talking employs teenage parents to educate young people about early parenthood and relationships; enabling them to make responsible choices and keep safe from harm.
We achieve these goals through employing teenage mothers and young fathers - offering them training, skills and support - to deliver courses in schools informing other young people about the realities of early parenthood and the dangers of abuse, coercion, grooming, sexting and Child Sexual Exploitation and help them consider their self-worth so that they gain resilience against harmful behaviour.

Aims & Activities

Straight Talking employs teenage parents who peer educate thousands of pupils in schools.  Disadvantaged young parents gain a second chance to reach their potential, whilst preventing pupils from making harmful choices for their future. Teenage mothers and young fathers are trained as peer educators so pupils recognise signs of Child Sexual Exploitation, domestic abuse, grooming and coercion, understand consequences of sexting, dangers of knife crime and gang culture, realities of early parenthood and consider their self-worth. Programmes are designed by the young parents themselves who have experienced these issues.  The work offers transferable skills, reference and CV so young parents engage with education and employment, bringing financial independence from the State.  Young parents are one of the furthest social groups from employment.  They must earn £25K per year to break even on benefits and childcare costs.  For those who left education early, this seems insurmountable.

Facts & Figures

                            Young parents are one of the furthest social groups from employment.  They must earn £25,K per year to break even on benefits and childcare costs.  Most are on benefits at age 30. We offer young parents a step up into employment. They choose their working hours to manage their childcare.  They gain raised levels of confidence, increased income for themselves and their children and transferable skills e.g. punctuality, reliability, communication, presentation. They have opportunities of promotion to part time and full time posts. We guide them into education and employment. They join a mutually supportive group of young parents mitigating isolation and abuse. Deliver from a peer is a powerful message to pupils. Pupils gain resilience against negative behaviour and explore their self worth. During the pandemic, young parents are designing an online programme to reach thousands of pupils across the UK; more than previously. Relationships education will be statutory from September.
                            

                            Teenage mothers and young fathers up to the age of 25. They are often depressed, chaotic, have low self-esteem and are without skills or qualifications, with little aspirations. Young parents are one of the furthest social groups from employment. Care Leavers are  3 times more likely to become parents. 25% of young offenders in custody are fathers, 39% mothers. •	20% of young people not in education, employment or training are teenage mothers. Teenage parents are more likely to have children who become teenage parents.  Research on young people; •In a recent study, 49% of boys and 33% of girls aged 13 – 14 thought that hitting a partner would be ‘okay’ in at least one of twelve scenarios they were presented with.•	130,000 children live in homes where there is high-risk domestic abuse •Up to 40 % of young people are involved in sexting •In the year ending March 2019, there were around 47,100 offences involving a knife •2017-18, when there were 285 killings, One in four were aged 18-24
                            

Awards

Guardian Charity Awards Winner by Guardian Newspaper in 2008

GSK Impact Awards Winner by The Kings Fund in 2009

CSJ Awards by Centre for Social Justice in 2011