Right Around ‘The Corner’ You Can Get All Your Answers

4th May 2009

March 1996 saw the opening of ‘The Corner,’ a scheme in Dundee aimed at providing a trustworthy, relaxed and confidential sexual health service for young people aged 11-25. The centre was innovative in its approach and deals with a wide range of services with a very personal touch; sexual health is very high in the agenda but the centre also deals with housing issues, money, unemployment, drugs, alcohol and mental health.  All these issues are just as prevalent in today’s youth as they are in today’s more mature society.

Tayside and Dundee have the unfortunate problem of having a much higher conception rate amongst young teens than most western European countries, the rates do not tend to shift to a dramatic degree, and they remain high.  This is why it seems vital to have places like ‘The Corner’, the government are hoping for a dramatic drop in teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection [STI] rates and percentages by 2010 by pushing forward a review and overhaul of current sexual education being taught in schools. A controversial move has been to push for sexual education to be introduced into primary schools; this learning about sex at an early stage of school life could be the breath of fresh air needed across the UK and Dundee. This need for a review is very clear to even younger people like myself, I have almost become used to passing large numbers of teen mums’ everyday as if it is almost the ‘norm’, when it is not. The channel 4 programme ‘The Hospital’ recently highlighted how dangerous the teen mum epidemic has become; services and informal and non-judgemental information from places like ‘The Corner’ are proving to be required more and more.

The staff at ‘The Corner’ come from an extensive background of professions and jobs; youth workers, nurses, health promotions and social work, they all focus on particular issues that arise at ‘The Corner’.  These services range from seeing a nurse if you require contraception or the morning after pill, a health promotions staff member will demonstrate how to correctly apply a condom, a nurse will also be available to help test for STI’s such as the ever popular Chlamydia.  There are also social workers available to talk about sexual health problems but also housing and unemployment.  The clinic is very busy and are open 6 days a week [closed last Thursday of every month], times varying:

• Monday – 12 -6pm,
• Tuesday to Friday 12-5pm
• Saturday - 1-4pm

The first Wednesday of every month offers legal advice to those who drop in and this is something that is very popular. The process of arriving and talking to reception is generally painless, you are given a green form, which you tick the service or services you require, your description is then noted at the front desk – you do not even have to give your name. The whole process is confidential and effective.  This dedication saw ‘The Corner’ win Family Planning Associations Pamela Sheridan Award in 2000 for innovation in delivery of sexual health services. 

Sex is everywhere in today’s society and a lot of pressure is put on the youth of today to comply with what they think they should be doing. More often than not ‘The Corner’ see the youth of Dundee after they have submitted to what they think they think is the right path, it is here that the corner step in to offer precious and beneficial advice as to how to proceed. The rush to have sex so young is a ticking time bomb and Dundee have already been hit hard with high teen pregnancy and shooting STI rates, what does not seem to be sinking in is that having control over your choices and your body will benefit in the long run.

In such a sex obsessed society where the idea that sex sells and having as much flesh on display and as little clothing has become the cultural normal with the younger generation,  the offer of informal, non-judgemental and genuine advice and support is like the light at the end of the tunnel. ‘The Corner is a bright, inviting and welcoming place, this is exactly what needs to shine through all the bad statistics and rates; a push for something better. Everyone has made mistakes but it’s what we learn from those mistakes and accidents that helps shape the future, the mistake of letting teen pregnancy and STI rates get so high is a mistake but with places like ‘The Corner’ in position to tackle this full on this shows such hope and that type of hope is priceless.

‘I used to feel so different, like a black mark in a room full of gold stars, but coming to The Corner made me feel part of something , of something great.’(Female 21)The Corner Website.

‘The Corner’ drop in clinic can be located at 13 Shore terrace, Dundee. The office: 18 Dock Street.

The website is very helpful and has a hot question where you can log on and reply, the issues range from contraception to suicide and money:
www.thecorner.co.uk
Written By: Shona Appleby

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