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Condoms (male)

Condoms (male)

Using condoms is an important part of looking after your sexual health if you are sexually active.

Condoms are the only method of contraception that can help protect against both pregnancy and STIs.

Condoms help protect you from STIs during oral, vaginal and anal sex. You should always use a condom when having sex with casual and new partners.

You can get free condoms from a number of places, including genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, sexual healthcare services and through the condom distribution (C-Card) scheme. The scheme provides free condoms, lubricants, and information support at convenient times and in various locations across local communities (find the distributors information below):

 

  • How to use it?
    • Always use a new condom, check the use by date and check if it is not damaged.
    • Take the condom out of the pack carefully. Do not use your teeth and watch out for rings and sharp fingernails that can tear the condom.
    • Wait until the penis gets hard before putting on the condom.
    • Put on the condom before any intercourse or genital contact.
    • Unroll the condom a bit to check that it’s the right way round before putting it near the erect penis.
    • You should squeeze the tip of the condom to get rid of any air.
    • Place the condom over the tip of the hard penis and roll it all the way down to the base of the penis.
    • If you’re using a water-based lubricant, spread it over the outside of the condom when it is on the penis.
    • Use plenty of condom friendly lubrication for anal sex – oil-based lubricants (Vaseline, baby oil) can cause damage to latex condoms.
    • You should always check during sex that the condom hasn’t slipped off.
    • After sex, withdraw carefully while the penis is still hard. Hold the condom at the base when you pull out, to stop it from slipping off.
    • Remove carefully and keep the semen in condom.
    • Wrap the condom in a tissue and dispose of it carefully in a bin, not down the toilet.
    • Always use a new condom if you have sex again.
    • How to use a condom video demonstration
  • Advantages
    • If used correctly, provide contraception and protection against pregnancy.
    • Condoms are important. When used properly, they can help to protect against sexually transmitted infections, HIV and unplanned pregnancy.
    • Condoms are widely available for sale without a prescription.
    • Allows both partners to take responsibility for contraception
    • Condoms can be used with other methods of contraception to practise safer sex and prevent unplanned pregnancies and STIs.
    • They can help to protect both partners from sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
    • They have no medical side effects.
    • They are useful if you want to avoid taking hormones.
    • A dam (a square of very soft, thin plastic) placed across the anus or female genitals can be used to protect against infection through oral sex.
  • Disadvantages
    • Putting a condom on correctly needs practice.
    • Taking one out will need practice. You must hold the base of the penis when withdrawing after sex to stop the condom from slipping.
    • Condoms can get damaged if handled roughly or used with an oil-based lubricant like Vaseline.
    • Must be used before the expiry date on the packet.
  • C-Card condom scheme information for young people (free condoms and lubricants)

    Condoms and lubricants are available for free for young people aged 16-25 years.  The C-Card initiative aims to ensure that young people are safe and informed when it comes to their sexual health and have all the practical support they need.

    What is C-Card?

    The C-Card (Condom Distribution) scheme is a confidential sexual health service for young people aged 16 – 25 years in Northern Ireland. The scheme provides free condoms, lubricants, information support and advice at convenient times and in a variety of locations across local communities.

    What happens when you attend a local C-Card provider?

    • Registration: when you attend one of the local C-Card provider sites you will be registered for a C-Card. This includes being shown how to use a condom.
    • Issuing a C-Card: once the C-Card is issued, you are entitled to an agreed number of free supplies from any participating Registration Site. Packs generally contain six to ten condoms, a supply of lubricant, written instructions, and details of local sexual and reproductive health services.
    • Review: after receiving supplies an agreed number of times, the young person must return to a Registration Site where their sexual health circumstances will be reviewed.

    BELFAST (BHSCT)

    EXTERN Belfast
    Youth Engagement Service
    5-7 Queen Street
    Belfast BT1 6EA
    Email: katie.wolsey@extern.org
    Telephone: 07894622463

    NORTHERN (NHSCT)

    Belfast Central Mission (Northern)
    The C-CARD Scheme is delivered by Belfast Central Mission for service users aged 16-25. If you are a service user of Belfast Central Mission in the Northern area you can contact cturner@belfastcentralmission.org.

    CAFRE Greenmount Campus
    45 Tirgracy Road
    Antrim BT41 4PS
    Email: ethan.bates@daera-ni.gov.uk
    Telephone: 028 9442 6839

    CAFRE Loughry Campus
    76 Dungannon Road
    Cookstown BT80 9AE
    Email: judith.mullan@daera-ni.gov.uk
    Telephone: 028 8676 8139

    CAFRE Enniskillen Campus
    Levaghy
    Enniskillen BT74 4GF
    Telephone: 028 9442 6601

    Carrick YMCA
    YMCA Carrickfergus
    30-34 Irish Quarter West
    Carrickfergus BT38 8AT
    Email: info@carrickymca.org
    Telephone: 028 9335 5890

    Northern Regional College – Magherafelt 
    22 Moneymore Road
    Magherafelt BT45 6AE
    Email: leo.meenan@nrc.ac.uk
    Telephone: 028 7963 2462

    Northern Regional College – Coleraine, Causeway
    Union Street
    Coleraine BT52 1QA
    Email: ryan.brolly@nrc.ac.uk
    Telephone: 028 2766 0432

    Northern Regional College – Ballymena
    40 Farm Lodge Ave, Town Parks
    Ballymena BT43 7DF
    Email: rhonda.livingstone@nrc.ac.uk
    Telephone: 028 7944 1189

    Northern Regional College – Newtownabbey 
    400 Shore Rd
    Newtownabbey BT37 9RS
    Email: rob.wilson@nrc.ac.uk
    Telephone: 028 9085 5083

    Rutledge Training
    10B Dublin Road
    Antrim BT42 4EA
    Email: cmurray@rutledgegroup.co.uk
    Telephone: 078 4269 1521

    Start 360
    2-6 Wellington Street
    Ballymena BT43 6AE
    Email: info@start360.org
    Telephone: 028 2568 9356

    Triangle Housing (Northern/Belfast)
    The C-CARD Scheme is also delivered by Triangle Housing for service users aged 16-25. If you are a service user of Triangle Housing in the Northern/Belfast area you can contact Suzanne.kelly@trianglehousing.org.uk for more information.

    SOUTH EASTERN (SEHSCT)

    Aim to Change
    Grove House (SEHSCT)
    79 Antrim Road
    Ballynahinch, BT24 8AN
    Email: orla.mcloughlin@setrust.hscni.net
    Telephone: 028 9598 0002

    Children’s Services (16+ Team)
    Downshire Estate
    Ardglass Road
    Downpatrick, BT30 6RA
    Email: dermot.maguire@setrust.hscni.net
    Telephone: 028 4451 3937

    EXTERN Bangor
    10-12 High Street
    Bangor BT20 5AY
    Email: bangoryes@extern.org
    Telephone: 07436 808425

    Lisburn YMCA
    28 Market Square 79 Antrim Road
    Lisburn, BT28 1AG
    Email: conor@lisburnymca.com
    Telephone: 028 9267 0918

    MACS Floating Support
    9 English Street
    Downpatrick, BT30 6AB
    Email: downpatrickfloatingsupport@macsni.org
    patrickwatters@macsni.org
    Telephone: 028 4401 5155

    North Down YMCA
    YMCA North Down
    10-12 High Street
    Bangor, BT20 5AY
    Email: info@northdownymca.org
    anna@northdownymca.org
    Telephone: 028 9145 4290

    Resurgam Healthy Living Centre
    Resurgam Healthy Living Centre
    69 Drumbeg Drive
    Lisburn BT28 1QJ
    Email: gillian.lewis@resurgamtrust.co.uk
    clare.parker@resurgamtrust.co.uk
    Telephone: 028 9267 0755

    Simon Community
    41-45 Central Avenue
    Bangor, BT20 3AW
    Email: nicolesalmon@simoncommunity.org
    Telephone: 028 9146 9223

    South Eastern Regional College – Lisburn
    Castle Street
    Lisburn, BT27 4SU
    Email: anna@northdownymca.org
    conor@lisburnymca.org

    South Eastern Regional College – Bangor
    Castle Park Road
    Bangor, BT20 4TD
    Email: caroline@northdownymca.org
    shauna@northdownymca.org

    South Eastern Regional College – Newtownards
    Victoria Avenue
    Newtownards, BT23 7EH
    Email: anna@northdownymca.org

    South Eastern Regional College – Downpatrick
    Market Street
    Downpatrick, BT30 6LZ
    Email: anna@northdownymca.org

    Ulster Hospital ED Youth Service
    Upper Newtownards Road
    Dundonald BT16 1RH
    Email: connect.ulsterhospital@eani.org.uk
    kathy.webster@setrust.hscni.net
    Telephone: 07971333157

    SOUTHERN (SHSCT)

    Belfast Central Mission (Southern)
    The C-CARD Scheme is delivered by Belfast Central Mission for service users aged 16-25. If you are a service user of Belfast Central Mission in the Southern area you can contact tvstecenko@belfastcentralmission.org.

    Drumgor Detached Youth Work Project
    Mount Zion House
    Lurgan BT66 6DB
    Email: youthadvocacy@ddywp.com
    Telephone: 077 4252 6766

    Futureproof NI
    Youth Engagement Service
    15a Commercial Road
    Banbridge BT32 3ES
    Email: lucinda@futureproofni.org (075 4004 9938)
    Shauney@futureproofni.org
    Telephone: 028 4062 4511

    Magnet YES
    Youth Engagement Service,
    81A Hill Street
    Newry BT34 1DG
    Email: yes.magnetyac@gmail.com
    Telephone: 028 3026 9070

    Southern Health Hub
    Across all Southern Regional College campuses in the Southern Area
    The Health Hub | Southern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)
    Email: Health.Hub@southerntrust.hscni.net
    Telephone: 077 8743 2845

    Southern Regional College – Armagh
    7 Lonsdale Road
    Armagh BT61 7JX
    Email: mcconvillea@src.ac.uk
    woodsb@src.ac.uk
    Telephone:  078 9459 4777

    Southern Regional College – Newry West
    Patrick Street
    Newry BT35 8DN
    Email: brennanj@src.ac.uk
    kings@src.ac.uk
    Telephone:  077 3391 2871

    Southern Regional College – Greenbank
    Greenbank Industrial Estate
    Ballinacraig Way
    Newry BT34 2QX
    Email: health.hub@southerntrust.hscni.net
    Telephone:  077 8743 2845

    Southern Regional College – Portadown
    36-44 Lurgan Road
    Portadown BT63 5BL
    Email: health.hub@southerntrust.hscni.net
    Telephone:  077 8743 2845

    Southern Regional College – Lurgan
    Kitchen Hill
    Lurgan BT66 6AZ
    Email: health.hub@southerntrust.hscni.net
    Telephone:  077 8743 2845

    Southern Regional College – Banbridge
    22 Castlewellan Road
    Banbridge BT32 4AY
    Email: health.hub@southerntrust.hscni.net
    Telephone:  077 8743 2845

    Southern Regional College – Model Campus
    6 Catherine Street
    Newry BT35 6JF
    Email: health.hub@southerntrust.hscni.net
    Telephone:  077 8743 2845

    South West Regional College – Dungannon
    Circular Road
    Dungannon BT71 6BQ
    Email: Sharon.watters@swc.ac.uk
    niall.marlow@swc.ac.uk
    Telephone: 028 8225 0109

    SHSCT 14+ Team
    Drumglass Lodge
    20 Coalisland Road
    Dungannon BT71 6LA
    Email: Aleksandra.sowa@southerntrust.hscni.net
    Telephone: 078 2514 6978

    SHSCT Family Nurse Partnership
    If you, or a young person you work with, would like to avail of the scheme and are getting support from the SHSCT Family Nurse Partnership, please get in touch.
    Telephone: 028 3756 4632

    Youth Justice Agency
    Youth Justice Agency
    15a Castlewellan Road
    Banbridge, BT32 4AX
    Email: Catriona.Cullen@justice-ni.gov.uk
    bernadette.McDowell@justice-ni.gov.uk
    Telephone: 028 4062 1043

    WESTERN (WHSCT)

    CAFRE Enniskillen Campus
    Levaghy
    Enniskillen BT74 4GF
    Email: michelle.bradley@daera-ni.gov.uk
    Telephone: 028 6634 4610

    North West Regional College – Strand Road 
    78-80 Strand Rd
    Derry/Londonderry BT48 7AL
    Email: Eva.Mcclean@nwrc.ac.uk (02871278706)
    Rebecca.martin@nwrc.ac.uk (02871276010)
    Shannon.Doherty@nwrc.ac.uk (02871278706)

    North West Regional College – Strabane
    Derry Road
    Strabane BT82 8DX
    Email: majella.doherty@nwrc.ac.uk
    Telephone: 02871278837

    North West Regional College – Limavady 
    Main Street
    Limavady BT49 0EX
    Email: lorna.quinn@nwrc.ac.uk
    Telephone: 02871278714

    North West Youth Service
    Youth Engagement Service
    Our Space, 12-14 The Diamond
    Derry BT48 6HW
    Email: youthengagementservice.derry@gmail.com
    Telephone: 077 5485 6792

    The FIND Centre
    27c East Bridge Street
    Enniskillen BT74 7BW
    Email: info@thefindcentre.com
    Telephone: 028 6632 5559

  • C-Card condom scheme information for professionals (promotional resources)

    C-card condom scheme Northern Ireland – promotional resources

    Please note this toolkit is published under Sexual Health Week 2026 on the Sexual Health NI website.

    The C-CARD Condom Scheme is a Regional C-Card Condom Distribution Scheme that provides free condoms, lube, and information support at convenient times and in a variety of locations for young people aged 16-25 years old.

    Produced and published by: Common Youth and the Public Health Agency, Communications and Health Improvement teams

    Hashtags:

    • #CCard
    • #FreeCondomsNI
    • #CCardSchemeNI

    Follow us to stay up to date with this initiative:

    • Facebook @commonyouth and @PublicHealthAgency
    • Instagram – @common_youth and @PublicHealthNI
    • LinkedIn – Common Youth and publich-health-agency-pha
    • X – @common_youth and @PublicHealthNI
    • Youtube – Common Youth and PublicHealthAgency
    • TikTok – @commonyouth
    • Websites – Common Youth and Sexual Health NI

    Download full text of C Card Condom Scheme Toolkit Professional Resources 2026 here, also access it on the Common Youth webpage.

    With a focus on promoting safe and pleasurable sex for young people in Northern Ireland, this scheme encourages everyone to use a condom and take charge of their sexual health.

    The Toolkit contains ready-to-use content (social media posts, images and posters) for Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIN, websites.

    C-CARD Condom Scheme Toolkit objectives

    • To raise awareness of the C-Card Condom Distribution Scheme and encourage organisations to join the programme.
    • To allow young people to access free condoms, lube, and information support.
    • To improve knowledge about safe and correct condom usage.
    • To raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health access points across Northern Ireland.

    C-Card Condom Scheme alignment with Sexual Health Action Plan 2023-2026:

    • Obj 1: Strive to eliminate new HIV transmissions in Northern Ireland.
    • Obj 2: Reduce transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
    • Obj 3: Support choice over reproductive health and minimise the number of unintended pregnancies, with particular attention on teenage pregnancy.
    • Obj 4: Ensure equitable access in sexual health and reproduction services across the region.
    • Obj 5: Create a culture of openness about sexual and reproductive health and empower people with the information they need to make informed choices.

    How to participate

    Become a C-Card condom scheme provider and collaborate with partners

    By becoming a C-Card provider, individuals working within the C&V sector can distribute free condoms and lube to young people they work with in the community..  Public support for the C-Card Scheme will ensure condoms are easier for young people to obtain when they need them

    Support evaluation and impact

    • Let us know how you use the toolkit and about the social media engagement, hashtag reach, website visits, downloads, and event participation on your channels and platforms.
    • Collect feedback from participants to measure awareness and engagement and send us some quotes.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do I become a C-Card Provider?

    To become a C-Card Provider you must attend a C-Card Training course. This training will give you the tools necessary to carry out the scheme in your setting and includes Traffic Light Training, a tutorial of the Beetroot system, and relevant information about condom use. If you are interested in attending a training course, email ccard@commonyouth.com to register your interest.

    Can I become a C-Card Provider if I do not have a medical background?

    Yes! Anyone who regularly works with young people can become a C-Card Provider, no medical training necessary. This scheme is about distributing condoms to young people in the settings where they feel most comfortable. Under the scheme, C-Card providers are not expected to give any advice or medical information. The training will prepare you to inform service users on proper condom use and how to signpost local sexual health services.

    How can I find other C-Card Providers in my area?

    Information on participating organisations can be found on Common Youth’s website and the Sexual Health NI webpage.

    Social media posts

    Social media graphics to be used when promoting the C-Card Scheme

    Ready-to-use content (posts, images) for Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, websites.

    Hashtags to use

    • #CCard
    • #FreeCondomSchemeNI
    • #CCardSchemeNI

    All graphics are available to download below:

    Type of graphic Image
    Logo
    Promotional poster  
    Time slot poster
    Instagram ready poster

    Tagging:

    X Facebook Instagram
    @commonyouth_
    @healthdpt    		 @commonyouthbelfast
    @DepartmentOfHealthNI    		 @common_youth      @department_of_health_ni

    Additional resources and support information:

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