Lifestyle information and advice for young people

Introduction

This page is aimed at young people leaving care. It gives information on education, training and employment, disabilities, healthy living, sexual health and relationships and young parents.

As a young person growing up with some experience of the care system it is important to seek support and advice on life issues. The Voice is a designed to help young people speak out.

Education, training and employment

Attending college is an alternative to going on to the sixth form and can be the start of a new and exciting period in your life. City College Plymouth offers information and advice on full and part time courses. There is information on:

• Learner services, counselling, travel
• Help with your study, computing facilities
• Library and learning resources service, learning support
• Enjoying college, activities such as canoeing, swimming, rock climbing, yoga

Disabilities

It can be very isolating when you’re not in regular education; college can help you further your studies and meet new people. City College Plymouth encourages and supports individuals who are disabled and who want to study.

Employment

New Deal

The New Deal is a government programme that aims to give unemployed 18 to 24 year-olds the help and support they need to get into work. If you are on the New Deal you will be given advice and guidance by a personal advisor, they will design a plan, with your goals and aims in order to find you a suitable job and prepare you for employment. The New Deal discovery tool can help you see if this is for you.

Connexions

Connexions can help; they give advice and guidance on:

• applying for University
• seeking work
• full time courses
• training

Connexions can give you help and advice on how to approach an interview and help on self-awareness. Try the tailored connexions quizzes - these can be done at your own leisure and may give you answers to things, which can help in securing that job.

National Insurance Numbers

If you need any help or advice regarding national insurance numbers you can call the Department for Work and Pensions or check the Department for Work and Pensions website for guidance.

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Personal health

Registering with a GP, optician and dentist are all important. Regular yearly check ups at a minimum are advised. If you would like to search for any of these you can search on the NHS website and use the 'nearest search' for a list of dentists, GPs or opticians in your area.

Prescriptions

If you register with a local doctor you should get free prescriptions unless you are working, in which case there is a charge. You will need to fill in a HC1 form, which you can get from your personal advisor or direct from our office.

Eyes tests

Eye tests vary in price depending on the opticians

Dentists

This is free if you are under the age of 18 or you are 19 and in full time education. Private dentists vary in price.

Healthy eating

It’s really important to eat well and have a balanced diet. On a low budget this can be hard and knowing what to eat and what not to eat can be confusing. The Need 2 know website's healthy eating section can show you seven steps to healthy eating. You can also try out the quiz to see how up to date your knowledge of healthy eating is.

The 16+ Service provide food parcels in an emergency to Care Leavers. The parcels contain mainly tinned food, which is easy to easy to cook, along with a menu full of ideas.

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Physical activity

Physical activity is just as important as eating healthily, exercise can be fun and does not have to be expensive, it can also help with boredom and you can meet new people.

Why not try and write a list of activities you like to do and then check off what activities are going on around Plymouth.

• Plymouth Pavilions rink and pool
• Sport at Marjon
• Sport on Beehive

Smoking, alcohol and drugs

Smoking

Did you know that if a pack of cigarettes costs about £4 to £5 for a pack of 20, a pack a day means 7,300 cigarettes a year costing roughly £1,456 to £1,820. For this amount you could have:

• Bought a new wardrobe of clothes
• Been on a lovely holiday
• Bought driving lessons
• Been to the cinema 224 times (if a pack costs £4)

Not only does smoking cost a lot of money, it also affects your health. It is estimated that tobacco contains over 4,000 chemicals. Tobacco contains nicotine, which can become very addictive and could cause a long-term smoking habit. Smoking can cause side effects such as asthma and other chest problems, which can affect your ability to play sports. Increased blood pressure is another side effect of smoking. It’s never too late to stop smoking. The Quit website can help give advice and information on smoking if you are a teenager or pregnant, and offers motivation and support on quitting smoking. [Back to top]

Alcohol

Alcohol is used at many social events. If consumed in moderation can be enjoyable. If excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed this can make you feel very drunk. A person’s size, weight and food consumption along with alcohol consumption is dependant on how much alcohol is in your blood and how drunk you feel.

Binge drinking

It is difficult to find a definition of binge drinking. The daily limit for women is two to three units and for men it is three to four units. Alcohol concern advises that the point of binge drinking is six units for women, eight for a man.

So why do young people drink?

• To fit in and look cool
• To relax
• To forget problems
• To socialise

Where can I get advice and help from? Alcohol Concern is a national agency on alcohol misuse. [Back to top]

Drugs

Do you know quiz?

1.	Stimulants act on the central nervous system and increase brain activity. True or False? Answer 1
2.	Can you name three stimulants? Answer 2
3.	A depressant slows the brain down. True or False? Answer 3
4.	Name a depressant Answer 4
5.	Taking drugs can cause you to Eat chocolate or Change the way you see and hear what is going on around you. Answer 5
6.	Which two of these drugs can cause a trip? LSD Magic Mushrooms Heroin Speed Answer 6
7.	Using heroin can cause which one of these side effects? Vomiting Crying Answer 7
8.	Snorting cocaine can damage your nose True or False? Answer 8
9.	Taking drugs can Make you feel confident Make you feel excited Promote the growth of your muscles Answer 9
10.	How do I get great looking muscles? Go to the gym Take anabolic steroids Answer 10

Answers to questions

1.	True
2.	Ecstasy, speed, cocaine, crack, tobacco, poppers
3.	True
4.	Heroin, solvents, alcohol
5.	Change the way you see and hear what is going on around you.
6.	LSD and Magic mushrooms
7.	Vomiting
8.	True
9.	Make you feel confident and excited
10.	Go to the gym

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Addiction to drugs can lead to health problems, well being issues, violence and crime. You can get help from agencies that are set up to give support and guidance. The Harbour Centre in Plymouth can help with such advice. Someone can meet you in a place that is suitable to talk about life. They will make regular appointments to meet with you so that a long and short-term plan can be devised. Harbour can also help give advice at different stages of taking drugs, advice to help you cut down your use and to be safe when taking drugs. Talk to Frank can help give advice on drugs and the different types of drugs there are. [Back to top]

Sexual health, contraception and relationships

Sexual relationships are part of growing up. It is illegal to have sex under the age of 16. It is not always seen as cool to use contraception but the use of condoms and the pill can help to stop unwanted pregnancies and stop you catching a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).

• It's cool to carry a condom
• It's ok to have fun but be safe
• Don’t let peer pressure affect your decision making
• If you don’t wear a condom you are taking the risk of contracting a Sexually Transmitted Infection and of girls becoming pregnant.

What to if you need emergency contraception

You can get the morning after pill from your GP, or from a chemist. This needs to be taken within 72 hours of intercourse.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

• Herpes
• Genital warts
• Thrush
• Chlamydia
• HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus), which can be contracted through semen, blood and vaginal fluids.

You can talk to a GP or nurse in confidence about contraception. There are also great websites that can help educate and advise young people, as we all have questions about sexual health and well-being.

Young parents

Parenting can be one of the most rewarding but difficult times of a person's life. Advice and guidance is invaluable. Whatever the age of your child, you can get information from many websites including Parent Line Plus.

To get advice and information on nutrition, fertility, pregnancy and any questions you may have, or things that you may be unsure of, you can go to the iVillage website for women. [Back to top]