Sex and relationships

If you are thinking about having sex (whether it's the first time or the fiftieth), then it is important that you are ready, can enjoy it, and can take responsibility for it. This means protecting yourself and others with the right contraception for you and being clear on consent.

Any sort of sexual contact without consent is illegal whatever the age of the people involved. If it helps, just imagine instead of initiating sex you’re making them a cup of tea.

Watch this video about tea and consent

Relationships

No matter how old you are; whether you’re gay or straight or in a long or short term relationship, some things should look the same if the relationship is a healthy and happy one. All relationships have ups and downs, but they should be based on respect, trust, and communication. That’s true whether it’s your relationship with your best friend, your teacher or your partner.

However, if you are feeling scared, unhappy or your partner tries to control what you wear or who you see, it may be time to think if that relationship is right for you.

There are further sources of information both locally and nationally in the lists below.

Wellbeing

iCaSH recognises that suicide prevention is everyone’s business.

If you are feeling like you want to harm yourself or end your life, it's important to tell someone. Help and support is available straight away if you need it. You do not have to struggle with these thoughts and feelings on your own.

If you or someone else is at a serious risk of immediate harm call 999 and ask for the police.

To talk to trained professionals about yourself or someone you are concerned about, you can contact the following specialists:

NHS 111: for 24-hour mental health help in a crisis call 111 and choose the 'mental health' option

Samaritans: Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): Call 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight) or visit the webchat page

SOS Silence of Suicide: Call 0808 115 1505 (8pm to midnight Monday to Friday, 4pm to midnight at weekends) or email contact@sossilenceofsuicide.org

The National Suicide Helpline: Call 0800 689 5652 anytime

Shout: If you do not want to talk to someone over the phone, this text line is open 24 hours a day, every day. Text "SHOUT" to 85258

Children and young people can contact:

Papyrus – prevention of young suicide HOPELINE247: Call 0800 068 41 41, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org

Childline: for children and young people under 19. Call 0800 1111 (the number will not show up on your phone bill)

Helpful links

Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service - For residents of Bedfordshire who experience depression, anxiety, obsessive behaviour, phobias etc.
Health Advice - General health information for those living in Central Bedfordshire.
Health and wellbeing - Health promotion information for adults aged 18 to 65 years living in Bedford.
The Emerald Centre - Sexual Assault Referral Centre for Bedfordshire and Luton.
Q:Youth Bedford - New LGBTQ+ support and social group for 13-19 year olds in Bedford.
Transcendent Alliance - Supporting transgender people in Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

Cambridgeshire

Centre 33 - Information, advice or support for under 25's in Cambridgeshire through a range of free and confidential services.
Dhiverse - Provides high quality sexual health and HIV support, education and information for all.
The Elms - Sexual assault referral centre for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Encompass Network - seeks to be an inclusive, participatory network for LGBTQ people and groups in Cambridgeshire.

Norfolk

Are You Getting It? - C-Card condoms, Chlamydia screening and sexual health info for young people in Norfolk.
Harbour Centre - Sexual assault and referral centre for Norfolk.
Mancroft Advice Project - Advice, counselling, information and support for young people aged 11 - 25 years.
Norfolk LGBT Project- Advice, information and social support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender people in Norfolk.
Norfolk's Living Well - Information and details on a wide range of health and wellbeing services in Norfolk.

Peterborough

The Elms - Sexual Assault Referral Centre for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Healthy You - On this website you will find medically proven information and advice on how to kick poor health into touch, by making simple lifestyle changes.
Peterborough LGBT Equality Council - exists to fight discrimination and promote equality for LGBT people in Peterborough.
Psychological Wellbeing Service - Help for those aged 17 and over who are suffering from mild to moderate depression and anxiety disorders in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

National

British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) - deals with all aspects of sexual health care, setting standards and aiming to champion and promote good sexual health.
British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) - independent healthcare charity advocating and caring for women and couples who decide to end a pregnancy.
Brook - Sexual health charity for young people in the UK
Counselling Directory - A confidential support network that encourages those in distress to seek help.
Family Planning Association - A sexual health charity providing info, advice and support on sexual health, sex and relationships to everyone in the UK.
Marie Stopes - Sexual health services. They respect the right of women to decide whether and when to have children
National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) - Information, data, guidance and resources about the NCSP from Public Health England.
Talk to Frank - Friendly, confidential drugs advice.
Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) - Sexual health charity focusing on HIV and sexual health promotion.

Other related pages

Pregnancy

Sexuality

Sexual assault

Termination of pregnancy

Your body

Access guides provide detailed information on a number of features from how to get to the site and what reception looks like to accessible toilets.

Simply select the location button below.

Bedford Great Yarmouth Huntingdon King's Lynn

Milton Keynes Norwich Peterborough Wisbech