Fury as children as young as 13 offered condoms – ‘is this a wind up?’

Stunned locals have reacted with indignation at a new initiative offering free condoms to children as young as 13. The sexual health service called DOINK offers the prophylactics online, where teenagers can register if they are from the Teesside regions of Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland.

Questions on the DOINK website include asking for the applicant for their “assigned sex” and email and mobile number, as well as informing prospective condom receivers to consent to having their data shared with universities for research. Sexual paraphernalia on offer from the service includes a selection pack of five different external condoms and an internal condom, as well as lubricant.

There is also a choice of 10 external condoms, with six different types to choose from, as well as five internal condoms and lubricant. A pack of five dental dams, which are used during oral sex, is also on offer.

But locals reacting on social media to the initiative were not altogether positive in their assessment. One exclaimed: “Is this a wind up? April Fool’s or something?.”

Another person pointed out the legal age for sex in the UK, noting: “13 , seriously consent is 16.”

And someone else doubted the “ridiculous” service would be used as was intended, adding: “Is this a joke? It’s just ridiculous if anything the 13-year-old are gonna (sic) get the condoms full of water and probably waste them.”

One person clearly not happy with the project said: “Another example of sexualizing (sic) new generation. Why there is no organisation providing work related advise and how to hold down a job and how to do taxes. Absolutely shambolic.”

Several people asked why girls still had to pay for sanitary products for their periods.

Dr Vanessa Apea, Medical Director at Preventx, the largest provider of remote sexual health testing in the UK, said: “With STIs and unintended pregnancy rates on the rise, it’s so important to keep yourself and your partner safe if you are sexually active.

“Using condoms and having regular testing is the best way to do this.

“We’re proud to work with Teesside Together and we hope this new service will help normalise condom use – making it easier than ever to stay safe in 2026 and beyond.”