Welcome to NI C-Card (Condom Distribution Scheme)

C-Card Schemes provide an opportunity to: 

• Educate young people about condoms, relationships and all aspects of sexual and reproductive health. Some young people will access a C-Card Scheme because they are sexually active while others will access the scheme because they want information, advice and support from a trusted professional.  

• Normalise and promote condom use as part of healthy sexuality and a healthy sexual culture, and to ensure young people feel confident about carrying and using condoms and talking about sex and sexuality. Doing so helps to contribute to the reduction of teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse and exploitation, and to improve sexual and reproductive health. 

• Provide training and opportunities for professionals working with young people to talk about sexual and reproductive health and promote healthy relationships. Many practitioners who work with young people are not sexual and reproductive health experts, but have the trust of young people. C-Card Schemes can build the capacity of local practitioners while helping to strengthen prevention pathways.

• Build a bridge into, and between, services which may seem too difficult for some young people to access, either psychologically (they believe they’re too young, the service isn’t for them, or they’re embarrassed to talk about sex) or logistically (limited public transport).

• Get sexual and reproductive health on the agenda in different agencies and facilitate conversations with young people 

Typically, a young person applying for a C-Card will go through the following process:

1. Registration: when a young person attends one of the local C-Card provider sites they will be registered for a C-Card. They will be assessed to ensure they are safe, competent to consent (Fraser Guidelines) and are shown how to use a condom.  
2. Issue: once the C-Card is issued, the young person is entitled to an agreed number of supplies free from any participating Registration Site. Packs generally contain six to ten condoms, a supply of lubricant, written instructions, and details of local sexual and reproductive health services.  
3. Review: after receiving supplies an agreed number of times, the young person must return to a Registration Site where their sexual health circumstances will be reviewed.

It is also important to know how to look after your sexual health, for example:

• Having the knowledge and confidence to make good choices about if and when to have sex, and being able to talk about contraception and condoms.
• Being aware of how alcohol and drugs can affect your decision making. Too much alcohol or any drug use can mean you might take more risks. This includes having sex when you normally wouldn’t or, when you do, not using a condom.
• If you are sexually active, use condoms, limit your number of sexual partners and get tested quickly if you think you might be at risk of having contracted STIs.
• Being properly informed with accurate information and not being misled by internet or social media material.

The PHA have been working with a range of community, voluntary and statutory sector providers to deliver the C-Card Scheme across local communities. A list of Northern Ireland C-Card providers has been outlined below.

Click here to learn more about the basics of condom use