Health and wellbeing for young people
Your physical and mental health is important. We will support you to access relevant services to help you live healthy and happy lifestyle. To do this, we will:
- give you an up to date health passport
- provide access to face to face or phone advice and support from the leaving care nurse, booked via your personal adviser
- help you to register with a local GP and dentist, and attend any medical appointments with you if needed
- offer you support via Walsall Integrated Sexual Health (WiSH)
- offer you advice and support about drug and alcohol misuse and help you to engage with specialist support services
- help you to identify and engage with sports clubs and activities
Free prescriptions
As a Walsall care leaver, you can get free prescriptions up to the age of 25.
For more information and help to complete the application, contact your personal adviser.
Counselling services
Your personal adviser will help you to access counselling services.
Walsall Talking Therapies is open to anyone over 17 who is registered with a Walsall GP. You can also self-refer online or use the free phone number.
If you're under 25, you can use Kooth's online counselling service. It's a free, safe and anonymous way to ask for help.
Health advice
Walsall NHS have specialist nurses who are experienced in supporting young people who are care leavers. If you're worried about your health or need some non-urgent advice, let your PA know. They will contact one of the nurses for you. The nurse may call you back or direct your PA to a service to support you.
There are weekly drop-in sessions at the TLC Hub where you can come and speak to the nurse. Ask your PA for details.
This service is not intended to replace any front-line health services. In an emergency, call 999. If you need medical health fast but it's not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
Staying active
Staying active is great for your physical and mental health. You're entitled to a Leisure Pass, which gives you access to swim and gym sessions at any Walsall leisure centre, free of charge.
We also have a care leaver football team. We meet regularly to practice and come together to take part in regional football tournaments. Let us know if you want to join!
Sexual health
Your PA can offer you confidential, non-judgemental advice, and help you to access sexual health services. Walsall Integrated Sexual Health (WiSH) provides advice, emergency contraception and STI/STD testing. PAs can also distribute condom packs from the TLC Hub.
We offer chlamydia/gonorrhoea tests that you can carry out at home and post your sample. You then get a call or text from the WiSH service to let you know the results. Let us know if you need a test and we will send one to you.
Health Passport app
The Health Passport app contains useful health advice as well as details of local services. Search your app store for “Care Leavers Health Passport”.
