Feature

Opinion: From our Readers - Scouts: we are proud of our sex guidance

By describing The Scout Association's plan to issue guidance on sexual health as a 'miss', (Hit or Miss, 24 October), Gina Hebden has totally missed the point. Any organisation with responsibility for nearly 400,000 young people of both genders would be failing in its duty if it were to simply bury its head over such a crucial issue. Is Hebden seriously suggesting that a Scout leader confronted by a young couple seeking advice over sexual health should be left without guidance?

/ October 29, 2008

Despite the selective quotation of just three articles (out of more than 365 print, online and broadcast pieces), the overwhelming majority of the coverage agreed that we were right to provide young people with information on sexual health, in the context of helping them resist pressure to become sexually active.

Britain has the highest teen pregnancy rates in Europe. Society has listened to people like Hebden for too long and it hasn't worked. Now is the time to act and I am proud the Scouts have taken this lead.

Simon Carter, assistant director marketing and communications, The Scout Association.