About Us
Our Mission Statement
FPA’s mission is to be Sexual Health Company who provides gold standard, accurate, unbiased and up to date information on Relationships and Sex Education, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Postnatal Health and Wellbeing.
The old and the new: bridging the gap of FPA the Charity and FPA the Company
The Family Planning Association (FPA), started a movement, turned into a Charity and became a Company in 2019. In its history of almost 100 years, real achievements have happened.
The Family Planning Association (FPA), started as a movement in the 1930s, registered as a Charity in the 1960s and become a Company in 2019.
In its history of almost 100 years, real achievements have been made. Continue reading…
FPA celebrated 80 years
In the last decade we have continued to support and champion the rights of everyone to good sexual health.
We ran the first national awareness campaign focusing on the rights of people with learning disabilities to fulfilling sexual relationships:
1990
The Family Planning Association becomes FPA to mark its broader sexual health remit
FPA launches Sexual Health Direct: a helpline and library service plus two new annual campaigns: Contraceptive Awareness Week and Sexual Health Week.
In the last decade, we have continued to support and champion the rights of everyone to good sexual health.
A government action plan for reducing teenage pregnancies in England included a call for clearer guidance on contraceptive provision for under-16s and new criteria for effective services for young people.
1980
Cuts in health service expenditure threatened family planning clinics and some areas suffered a reduction in services. Kenneth Clarke, Minister of Health of the time, stressed the need to maintain a free contraceptive service.
In 1984 DHSS guidelines on the provision of contraceptives to under-16s were suspended in December, following an Appeal Court ruling in favour of Mrs Victoria Gillick. Parental consent was judged to be important and except for advice given in an ‘emergency’ or ‘with leave of the Court’ health care professionals were deemed to be acting illegally if they provided contraceptive advice or treatment to girls under 16 without parental consent.
Parental consent is needed to provide contraception to under 16s.
1970
Sex + Pill = Freedom
By 1970 all FPA clinics were supplying advice and treatment to everyone.
In 1974, our aim of universal free contraception was achieved when our network of over 1,000 clinics was handed over to the NHS. Family planning was now part of the health service – and has remained there ever since.
All FPA clinics now give contraceptive advice to single people.
1960
During the 1960s the social and sexual attitudes changed dramatically.
The Pill was first prescribed in FPA clinics in 1961 and within ten years had become the method of choice for over a million women. This highly reliable method brought a new sense of sexual freedom to men and women.
The Family Planning Association become a registered Charity.
The Abortion Act legalises abortion in England, Wales and Scotland; and the Sexual Offences Act legalises homosexuality for men aged 21+.
1950
Then in the 1950s, FPA clinics began to offer pre-marital advice to women
…although proof, such as a letter from a vicar or family doctor, was often required before contraceptive supplies were provided.
1940
The NHS is formed, but family planning services are not included.
A change is coming
For FPA, the early days were a struggle, fought under great pressure from religious groups and the press. And it wasn’t just insults being hurled. Eggs, apples and bricks were frequently thrown at our clinics, and volunteers were verbally and physically threatened.
But change was soon in the air. The Second World War saw many old conventions left behind, and sex was more freely available – as were sexually transmitted infections.
Fighting for the sexual and reproductive rights of every person
In 1930, there were just 20 family planning clinics, knowledge of contraception was limited to those who had money, and good information and open discussion about sexual health was practically non-existent. To counter this, the National Birth Control Council was formed in 1930 (the name changed to The Family Planning Association in 1939) “so that married people may space out/limit their families and thus mitigate the evils of ill health and poverty”.
National Birth Control Council
FPA parent organisation, the National Birth Control Council, is formed with 20 clinics ‘so that married people may space or limit their families and thus mitigate the evils of ill-health and poverty’.
FPA the sexual health company provides a unique online shop filled with products and resources on sexual and reproductive health.
Our company is run by professionals in the sexual health field. We have strong links with the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH), British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) and the sexual health team at Public Health England (PHE).
At FPA we provide the highest quality information leaflets to healthcare professionals on contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and pregnancy choices. These leaflets are updated according to FSRH and BASHH clinical guidance amongst other leads in the field maintaining the gold standard seal of approval.
At FPA we also provide information for teachers and have a range of leaflets for secondary schools and our flagship online tool Growing up with Yasmine and Tom for primary schools.
We have a range of information on sexual and reproductive health to cater for everyone who has an interest in this area.
FAQs on the ownership of FPA the sexual health company now owned by McCorquodale (Midlands) Ltd
Supporting our customers through COVID-19
We would like to thank all our colleagues and our loyal customers – we appreciate your continued custom in these challenging and unprecedented times. Finally, take care of your loved ones and keep safe during these times of uncertainty.
We expect that both delivery times could be slightly longer than usual, but please be assured that we are doing all we can to maintain the levels of service you have come to expect from FPA.
No. There will be no requirement to physically sign for the delivery at this time.
Sure. Please add a note to your order detailing your ‘safe place’ and we will pass this information on to our delivery supplier, minimising contact through the supply chain.
If you have any concerns or queries about your order, please contact the customer service team at fpadirect@fpa.org.uk – where a member of the team will be delighted to support you.
