Services for young people in Brighton & Hove
Our Sexual Health & Contraception Service (SHAC) offers a range of contraception (including emergency contraception), pregnancy testing and sexual health services for young people
Our services are free and confidential, even if you are under 16. This means that we won’t tell anyone that you have visited our service unless you or someone else is at risk of harm. If you are worried about confidentiality then you can contact us and ask someone to explain the policy to you
When you attend clinic, you’ll be seen individually.
SHAC Clinics
If you’re under 25 years old you can access any of our SHAC clinics.
We have a limited number of ‘on the day’ appointments at SHAC Central (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 10.15am to 5pm) . These are filled on a first come, first served basis. If you’re allocated a later time slot, you will be asked to return to clinic nearer the time. Please be advised we are closed between 1pm & 2pm. For further advice, please call us on 01273 523 388
We offer specialist services for young people at SHAC West and at the walk-in Young Person’s Clinic on Wednesday afternoon (1.30pm to 6pm) at SHAC Central
How to book an appointment
Call us on 01273 523 388 for an appointment at SHAC East. For an appointment at SHAC West (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 3pm to 5.30pm) text 07770813972 and a member of staff will reply as soon as possible
Phone line opening times:
| Monday | 9.15am to 4.30pm |
| Tuesday | 9.15am to 4.30pm |
| Wednesday | 12.30pm to 4.30pm |
| Thursday | 9.15am to 4.30pm |
| Friday | 9.15am to 4.30pm |
Additional services for under 25s
C-Card Free Condoms
Under 25s can get free condoms and lube through the C-Card scheme, which is now app-based and even easier to use
Free Emergency Contraception for under 25s
Emergency contraception can prevent unwanted pregnancy after unprotected sex (sex without using contraception, or if contraception failed).
Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC, sometimes known as the morning after pill) for under 25s is free from certain pharmacies in Brighton and Hove. Find your nearest pharmacy using our map of pharmacies offering free EHC to under 25s. We recommend that you call the pharmacy before visiting, to check there is a pharmacist available.
Services offered by GP practices
These free and confidential clinics offer pregnancy testing, advice and referrals, contraception, emergency contraception, free condoms, and Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea screening. You do not need to be a registered patient at the practice in order to access these services. Please ring first to book an appointment. Drop-in appointments may be available depending on demand.
- St Peter’s Medical Centre – 30-36 Oxford St. Brighton, BN1 4LA | Wednesdays 3-6pm | Tel: 01273 606006
- Park Crescent Health Centre– 1a Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 3JJ | Thursdays 3:00-5.30pm | Tel: 01273 523623
- Mile Oak Medical Centre– Chalky Road, Portslade, Brighton BN41 2WF | Tuesdays 3:30-4.00pm | Tel: 01273 426200
Some GP practices in Brighton and Hove also offer free LARC (Long Acting Reversible Contraception) fitting. This includes contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices.
Sexual health facts
Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are high in young people
You can access testing even if you have no symptoms – many people who have an STI have no symptoms
If you do have symptoms of an STI (like pain when you pee or unusual discharge), or you’ve had sexual contact with someone who has an STI, you should call us on 01273 523 388 to make an appointment
STIs can be easily treated with medication, but the sooner the infection is treated, the better
Sexual wellbeing
Sex should be enjoyable, comfortable and safe for everyone involved
Your guide to happy, healthy sex, from masturbation to orgasms, and information about how to get help when things go wrong can be found here
