Off The Record sacked - Jenny Tonge's protest (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Off The Record sacked - Jenny Tonge's protest

May 1, 2011 12:40 PM

off the record twickenham • Dr Jenny Tonge writes [to the RTT April 29]: Sir - I HAVE been dismayed to learn that after 20 years of counselling services to Richmond's young people, the Off The Record service based opposite St Mary's Church in Twickenham has had its contract ended by Richmond Council. Without any consultation with fellow councillors, let alone the parents and young people, the contract for these services has been awarded to the Catholic Children's Services, which clearly states in its aims, it will uphold the values and doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.

This means young people will be not advised about contraception (abstinence is the rule) and cannot be referred for abortion counselling, should they need an abortion. Young people who are worried about being homosexual no advice or help. All of these problems are sometimes areas in which young people simply do not feel like approaching their parents without help or guidance. I know because I spent much of my professional life as a doctor, dealing with these problems.

It is unfair' and irrational for the council to impose Catholic thinking on the entire population of young people in this borough, the vast majority of whom are not Catholic or may have no religion at all.' I urge your readers to make their protests known to Cllr Lord True, leader of the council, York House, Twickenham.

• Funding for Twickenham youth support service Off the Record slashed [RTT Mar 10]

• Off the record [Twickenham]

• Tory Council hires Catholic agency to counsel the borough's teenagers [Apr 17]

• The Catholic Children's Society said its counsellors respect other beliefs and would not judge Richmond teenagers [RTT May 15]