Insight into life as a teenage mother

The "Peer Educators" project, paid for through the Department for Children, Schools and Families' Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF), sees young mothers being taught various skills during an eight week-long course.

The girls then go back into local secondary schools, with support from mentors and school nurses, to share their knowledge and enable other young women to understand what it's like looking after a baby while friends are still at school.

Young mother Hannah Marriott, who is taking part in the Peer Educators course, said: "It has helped me to improve my confidence and realise how far I've come in the past six months since having my baby and doing the course.

"It's also quite an achievement knowing that I may be able to highlight the difficulties of being a young mum."

Those who take part in the course also receive an ASDAN learning accreditation award in peer education, which they can put on their CVs or use to build towards further qualifications.

Deborah Burton, young people's training co-ordinator with Doncaster Council, who co-runs the project, said: "Peer health education is the process whereby well-trained and motivated young people undertake informal or organised educational activities with their peers over a period of time, aimed at developing their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and skills and enabling them to be responsible for and protect their own health.

"The programme supports and raises aspirations, confidence and self-esteem of the peer educators while also educating other young school age girls about the issues facing a teenage mum."