Good sexual health for young people includes:
- Feeling comfortable with their gender and sexuality
- Healthy sexual and romantic relationships
- Contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies
- Prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
Young people need sources of accurate information, someone to talk to for advice, support with problems and also strategies to protect themselves from harm.
Foster parents can help young people by:
- Starting a conversation when these issues arise for the young person, or within their social network
- Answering questions, openly and honestly
- Helping the young person access local sexual health services
- Supporting young people through problems
The law and young people’s rights
The age of consent for sexual activity in the UK is 16 years. This is the same for men and women, regardless of gender or sexuality. Where teenagers under 16 engage in sexual activity to which they both consent, and when they are of a similar age, the Home Office guidance states that there is no intention to prosecute either young person.
All young people aged 13 and over are entitled to confidential sexual health advice and services. Their school might have a service they can access, or they can visit their local young people’s sexual health service in the community.
Young people under the age of 13 are not considered able in law to give consent to sexual activity, and any known or suspected involvement by child of this age in sexual activity must be reported as a safeguarding concern.
Please see our agency policies for further information.
Useful websites
