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About us

Underpinning principles

COUI UK, of which Teens and Toddlers is the primary activity, is based on a strong ethical and values-driven foundation that is committed to equality and diversity. Our purpose and vision is to make a contribution to lives of at risk young people. We have an equal opportunities ethos both in terms of the young people we serve and our staff team, which is multi-cultural. We are committed to being proactive, to continuous professional development, as well as to networking and collaborative associations.

The project conveys the importance and the value of postponing pregnancy, providing the young person with an alternative vision of what is possible for their lives. Although a preventative programme, Teens and Toddlers asserts that the best way to achieve a reduction in teenage pregnancy is to give young people an experience of the enormous responsibility and hard work involved in having a child and to help them develop alternative goals to being pregnant, such as satisfying work and relationships.

Aims & Objectives

To prevent teenage pregnancies through:

  • Providing practical experience of working with children and developing an appreciation of the enormous privilege, the responsibility and hard work involved in having a child.
  • Raising awareness of the personal and financial responsibilities of an unexpected pregnancy through developing an understanding of the impact on their families and personal lifestyle.
  • Encouraging the development of alternative goals to being pregnant, such as satisfying work and relationships.
  • Educating teens about the realities of pregnancy, the importance of sexual responsibility and the effects of harmful behaviours, eg. Drugs, violence and health related factors - from foetus to neonate to child.
  • Providing one to one counselling and mentoring/ coaching to young people who are emotionally challenged and need support to enhance the outcomes of Teens and Toddlers.

To improve future parenting skills by:

  • Teaching child development, emotional and physical, to provide basic knowledge which can improve behaviours and communication.
  • Developing appropriate communication skills and providing an environment where they learn to reflect on the impact their words and behaviour on children and develop more helpful forms of behaviour.
  • Helping teenagers to internalize good parenting skills thereby addressing for the future, the generational perpetuation of teenage pregnancy and social deprivation.

To improve young people's emotional literacy by:

  • Helping them to develop new behaviours, new goals and a new vision of their lives through:
  • engendering and supporting a more informed and empowered sense of choice;
  • teaching skills of self reflection, self management, empathy, communication and social competence.

To foster 'citizenship skills' by:

  • Enabling a multi-cultural group of young people to effectively contribute to their local community engendering an appreciation of difference and to empower them to develop positive goals for the future and to value the part that they play in society.