Anti-Aids group hands out free condoms to teach youth about safe sex

Young clubbers can now get free condoms as part of an anti-Aids campaign that aims to promote safe sex among the youth.

Condoms wrapped in cute, colourful packaging are distributed to party-goers by Aids Concern social workers, who visit the participating pubs once or twice a week.

Aids Concern programme manager Jim Hoe described the response to the campaign, launched at Christmas, as "unexpectedly good".

"At first, we thought the pubs might be rather reluctant to take part," Hoe said. "But the response turned out to be unexpectedly good. They rather welcomed us. The young people there are rather approachable too."

Hoe said the social workers distributing the condoms were not there to give the youths lectures on sex education.

"We hand out colourful packs of condoms … packed like a matchbox," Hoe said.

"You won't feel embarrassed keeping one in your pocket. And there are guidelines inside the packaging to teach you how to use it."