In 1964, when contraception was only available to married women and unsafe backstreet abortions put lives at risk, Helen Brook took a stand. She believed young people deserved access to contraception and non-judgmental advice, ensuring they could make informed choices about their futures. She founded the Brook Advisory Centres, the UK’s first contraception clinics for unmarried women, pioneering a radical shift in sexual health care.

Brook’s work had a profound and lasting impact, shaping policy, healthcare, and education. Her advocacy influenced key legislation, including the 1967 Family Planning Act, and helped establish young people’s rights to confidential healthcare. Her unwavering belief in trusting and supporting young people transformed attitudes, setting new standards for respectful, rights-based care. Today, Brook’s legacy lives on, inspiring generations of healthcare professionals and continuing to safeguard young people’s reproductive rights.