New Wiltshire app helps young people find free condoms

The eC-Card app is a partnership between Wiltshire Council and Provide Digital and will act as an extension of the No Worries service which currently offers advice and support to 13 to 24 year olds around sexual health, contraception, pregnancy and STI testing.

With the new app, young people will be able to make a confidential appointment with a NO Worries GP practice without needing to be registered and use an interactive map to discreetly pick up condoms from designated locations.

The council hope that this will promote better sexual health and smart decisions, particularly around young people who don’t feel able to access contraception due to shame or embarrassment around asking.

The app will show all the free condom distributors near you in Wiltshire (Image: Getty Images)

“Empowering young people to have a respectful approach and positive outlook to sexuality and sexual relationships is an important part of personal development,” said Kate Blackburn, director for Public Health in Wiltshire.

“This app will ensure young people can make informed decisions about their sexual health and wellbeing, which is relevant throughout a person’s life,”

“Our No Worries sexual health service provides a confidential service for young people, offering trusted advice and support around sexual health, emergency contraception, free condoms, pregnancy testing and chlamydia self-testing kits.

“This discreet service creates a safe space for young people to ask questions and learn about how to keep themselves and others safe.

“A priority in our Business Plan is to provide support to young people particularly as they enter adulthood as well as improve sexual health and this eC-Card app is an example of work that we’re doing to achieve this.”

Not every sexually active young person feels able to access contraception (Image: Getty Images)

Data published in October 2023 by the UK Health Security Agency on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) showed that recent years have seen record levels of some STIs, including gonorrhoea and syphilis.

At the same time, research suggests that embarrassment and shame are significant barriers to young people’s access to sexual health information, as many feel unable to go and buy condoms or ask their parent or doctor about contraception options.

Wiltshire Council is now aiming to get as many businesses, schools, colleges and libraries to sign up to act as condom distributors as possible.

Any organisation interested in offering their space as a safe collection point should contact noworries.nhswiltshire@nhs.net.