Wirral's independent local news website
A charity that delivers sexual health services for young people in Wirral has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteer Award.
Brook, a national sexual health and wellbeing charity, won the award in recognition of their outstanding work, empowering and supporting young people.
The one-off awards were set up to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and look to recognise charities working with volunteers to provide 16-25 year olds with skills and opportunities.
Brook is one of only 20 charities that were chosen to receive the award, which were personally approved by his Majesty the King.
Brook supports young people in Wirral through free and confidential services such as STI testing and treatment, contraception, condoms and pregnancy testing. Brook also provides relationships and sex education in schools, empowering young people to take control of their sexual health and have healthy relationships.
Cassie Rattray, 24, from Wirral, was supported by Brook when she was a teenager and now volunteers with the charity. She said, “Brook is a charity I hold dear to my heart. They helped me and my friends when we were teenagers, providing us with so much support and guidance with sexual health and relationships. Now I volunteer with them and I see just how hard all the staff work to make Brook a safe and inclusive space for young people.”
Helen Marshall, Chief Executive of Brook, said, “It is a real honour to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award. Brook supports over 120,000 young people every year through our clinical and education services, and our young volunteers play an integral role in this. They not only support the day-to-day running of our operations, but crucially shape how our services are delivered.
“It is their insights and experiences we draw on to inform our practice, ensuring that we can empower young people to take control of their sexual health and wellbeing. We are extremely proud of our volunteer team in Wirral and across the country, and it means so much to have their dedication recognised with this award.”
For more information on how Brook support young people in Wirral, visit brook.org.uk/wirral
Image: Stock image of volunteers at a Brook clinic
Why not follow birkenhead.news on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to news@birkenhead.news