Teens and Toddlers, a programme where youths aged 14 to 17 spend one afternoon a week with a child at a local nursery (News, 25 May 2006), was trialled by the London Borough of Brent last year. So far 80 teenagers in Brent have completed the 20-week programme, and the council aims to include more nurseries and schools in the programme from next year.
Tracey Lovett, 15, from Stonebridge, Harlesden, who took part in the scheme, said, 'It was very challenging at times, but I really enjoyed taking part and I found it really useful. I plan to become a teacher and it was a great experience.'
An independent study which tracked past participants of Teens and Toddlers found that 97.5 per cent of the young women taking part had not become pregnant, and more than 90 per cent of respondents said that the scheme had been influential in raising the age at which they thought they would like to have children.
Teens and Toddlers is organised by the non-profit foundation Children Our Ultimate Investment UK, which receives funding for the programme from the Department of Health and several charities. It is running in nine local authorities in the UK, with seven in London. For information visit www.teensandtoddlers.org.