What is it?
Bodyzone is a drop-in
health service for young people. It gives information and support on everything to do with physical,
emotional, mental and sexual health. You can get leaflets, health advice (e.g. how to stop smoking), take part in health activities, or just talk to trained workers.
Bodyzones are staffed by a team made up of a school nurse, a youth worker and a family planning nurse.
Any health advice you receive at a Bodyzone will be confidential, unless you want the workers to talk to someone. There is also an on-call GP who can support the team when necessary.
They are not run by schools, Bodyzone is an independent service.
Miniguide: All about Bodyzone
Where are they?
There are many Bodyzones across Oxfordshire. Most are in rural communities, but there are a few in more urban areas. Bodyzones are deliberately based in or near schools. This means young people can go to them easily without the hassle of travelling or making special arrangements.
Bodyzones are usually based in a secondary school, or a youth centre near a secondary school.
Bodyzones are run at lunchtime once a week, often on a monday or tuesday.
Miniguide: Find your local Bodyzone
Reasons for going to Bodyzone
- Feeling stressed about exams
- Need advice about contraception
- Worried about bullying
- Painful or irregular periods
- Anxious about drugs
- Family stress
- Worrying about weight or looks
- Need to find out more about safer sex
- Feeling low, self esteem problems
- Problems with friends
- Health worries
Find out more about the questions people ask at Bodyzones
Worried? Embarrassed? Not sure if you should go?
You can find out more about Bodyzone in this miniguide.
Experience: Accessing Bodyzone
We found out about Bodyzone through the posters. And the teachers told me. The first time we went it was just a bit of fun. Sometimes people go all together, just taking the mick (boys especially) but you can see they're taking it all in really. You go back, and you do start to talk about problems. Secret stuff. Sometimes you don't want to talk to your mum or mates or whatever. You need to talk to someone different. We'd like more people to talk to, twice a week would be nice! - A, Kidlington