About Us
The previous government’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy was to halve the rate of teenage pregnancies in the UK by 2010 and enable teenage parents to move into education, employment and training. Progress was achieved towards the targets set but there is much more to be done. Straight Talking, with its peer education in schools and its training programme for teenage parents, responds to both aims.
Straight Talking Peer Education was set up as a registered charity in 1998 by Hilary Pannack. Hilary previously had several years experience of working with teenage parents in residential settings and support groups.
Over the last twelve years, the charity has expanded and we now employ approximately 85 teenage mothers and young fathers. All of these young people show a very high commitment to the work and without them, the charity could not deliver the successful work in schools. Our young people are extraordinary and have made the charity what it is today.
Straight Talking is based in New Malden, Surrey. Courses are currently delivered in the London Boroughs of Kingston, Richmond, Hounslow and Barking & Dagenham as well as Birmingham and Somerset. To see more information about our local schemes please go to Link
The charity promotes peer educators to be involved at all levels of the organisation. Kingston, Barking & Dagenham and Hounslow are run by promoted teenage parents in partnership with the Locald Autorities. Several of our promoted teenage parents have subscribed to a stakeholder pension with the charity. One of our teenage parents has achieved a distinction in her MA and is now on our board of trustees. Currently, 95% of our teenage mothers and young fathers are accessing education employment and training.
Our local schemes are reliant on a close partnership with Local Authorities who commission our services. With champions in Local Authorities in Barking & Dagenham, Somerset, Hounslow and Birmingham, our Straight Talking Local Schemes are delivering excellent work in local schools.
To see an independent evaluation of our work and feedback from teachers and pupils, please go to Link
This website is managed by Steve Howard, peer educator for Straight Talking.