National Birth Control Association
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The Family Planning Association (FPA) was a UK registered
charity Charity may refer to: Common meanings * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sha ...
working to enable people to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy
sexual health Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a field of research, health care, and social activism that explores the health of an individual's reproductive system and sexual well-being during all stages of their life. Sexual and reproductive healt ...
. It was the national affiliate for the International Planned Parenthood Federation in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1930, the FPA celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2010. Its motto was "''Talking sense about sex''". The charity was placed into liquidation on 15 May 2019, but the FPA name continues as a limited company selling sexual health resources.


History

The FPA was founded in 1930 when five
birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only be ...
societies merged to form the National Birth Control Council (NBCC). Charles Vickery Drysdale
FRSE Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and Literature, letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". ...
was important during its foundation. Its stated purpose was "that married people may space or limit their families and thus mitigate the evils of ill health and poverty". The NBCC changed its name to the National Birth Control Association (NBCA) in 1931, and then to the Family Planning Association (FPA) in 1939. From 1998 it was known as the FPA. The FPA was heavily invested in guaranteeing and standardising the various
contraceptive Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only be ...
methods it prescribed using modern science and medicine. From its inception, the association invested heavily in developing and implementing tests for chemical efficacy and safety and rubber quality. These findings were published after 1937 in its annual Approved List of contraceptives. Originally only offering a service to married couples, during 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. Only in 1964 did they begin to provide un-married woman with contraceptives. During the 1960s, social and sexual attitudes changed dramatically. The combined pill was first prescribed in FPA clinics in 1961 and within ten years was being used by over one million women. This highly reliable method brought a new sense of sexual freedom to men and women. By 1970, FPA clinics were offering advice and treatment, without restriction. In 1974, FPA handed their network of over 1,000 clinics to the NHS when contraception became free for all.
Family planning Family planning is the consideration of the number of children a person wishes to have, including the choice to have no children, and the age at which they wish to have them. Things that may play a role on family planning decisions include marit ...
is still part of the health service.


Leadership

The organisation's first administrator was Margaret Pyke OBE, who was appointed by the Association's chair, Gertrude Denman. When Denman died in 1954 Pyke took over as Chair, and was succeeded after her death in 1966 by Jean Medawar. Pyke's son, David Pyke, recalled his mother's involvement with the FPA in an interview with the historian, Brian Harrison, as part of the Suffrage Interviews project, titled ''Oral evidence on the suffragette and suffragist movements: the Brian Harrison interviews.'' The birth control activist, Nancy Raphael, honorary secretary of the FPA in the 1960s was also interviewed by Harrison as part of the project. Other women working alongside her included Lady Tewson, Helen Brook and Pamela Sheridan. As of 2010, the President of FPA was Baroness Gould of Potternewton; Vice Presidents included
Jacqui Lait Jacqueline Anne Harkness Lait (born 16 December 1947) is a British Conservative Party politician and former Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituencies of Hastings and Rye (1992–1997) and Beckenham (1997–2010). Early life Lait was ...
, Joan Ruddock MP and Baroness Tonge, and the charity was supported by a number of patrons. Additionally the FPA was steered by a board of twelve trustees; the Chair was Dr Val Day and the Vice Chair was Paul Woodward. In January 2008, Julie Bentley became the Chief Executive, taking over from Anne Weyman OBE, who had previously led the organisation for 11 years. Dr Audrey Simpson OBE became Chief Executive of FPA in October 2012, taking over from Julie Bentley who had led the organisation for five years.


Activities

The FPA aimed to improve the public's knowledge of sexual health. The organisation ran training courses and projects for professionals, grandparents, parents, carers and young people, and provided an information and press service to communicate sexual health information more widely. The FPA ran an enquiry service providing confidential information and advice on contraception; common sexually transmitted infections; pregnancy choices; abortion and planning a pregnancy. The enquiry service was made up of its helpline and Web Enquiry Service (Ask WES). The FPA also provided clinic details of contraception, sexual health and genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics and sexual assault referral centres. In Northern Ireland, where abortion is difficult to obtain, FPA offered an unplanned pregnancy counselling service. The FPA was also funded by the Department of Health (England) to provide a wide range of booklets on individual methods of contraception, common sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy choices, abortion and planning a pregnancy. These were distributed freely across England to sexual health services and GPs. Campaigning was a core part of the work of the FPA. It played a role in obtaining the provision of free contraception on the NHS across the UK and campaigned around abortion to preserve consumer rights and choices. In May 2008, FPA and other pro-choice groups prevented a reduction of the 24-week time limit for abortion, which was debated in the
House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
. The organisation subsequently tried to modernise abortion laws throughout the UK. In 2010, the FPA celebrated 80 years and rebranded with a new logo to reach more people with sexual health and sex and relationships information. During the same year it also founded an Achievers' Club to recognise people who have made significant contributions to improving the sexual health of the UK. "My contraception tool", an online tool to help people choose contraception, was launched by FPA and Brook. In October 2010, FPA also held the first all-Ireland conference on abortion for medical practitioners. At the Charity Awards 2010, ''All about us'', an FPA
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for people with learning disabilities, won the Disability category.


Criticisms

Due to the emotive nature of some topics addressed by FPA – for example, abortion – the charity was criticised by a number of religious, political and pro-life groups. These groups generally protested on the grounds that all foetuses have a right to life; that sexual health education leads to promiscuity; that contraception is against the teachings of the Bible; and for other similar reasons. In the early years of the charity, objects were thrown at clinics and volunteers were threatened. Later, opponents frequently held protests outside the FPA Belfast office.


References


External links


Family Planning Association
* Th
Family Planning Association's archives
are available for study at the Wellcome Collection. {{Authority control British abortion providers International Planned Parenthood Federation affiliates Charities based in London Birth control in the United Kingdom Medical and health organisations based in the United Kingdom Organisations based in the London Borough of Hackney