History 

How Marie Stopes International began

Founded in 1976, Marie Stopes International grew out of the organisation originally set up by Marie Stopes in 1921. The modern organisation was co-founded by Dr Tim Black, CBE & his wife Jean whose vision was to provide accessible family planning services globally.

After qualifying as a physician Dr Tim Black worked in Africa, Australia and Papua New Guinea. In 1969 he spent a year at the University of North Carolina, US studying and gaining his Masters in Population Dynamics. While in the States he co-founded, with Phil Harvey, Population Services International and implemented PSI's first Social Marketing Programme in Kenya.

On returning to the UK from Kenya, Dr Black took over the ailing Marie Stopes Clinic in Central London. Within a year more clinics were opened and these were such a success that shortly afterwards the organisation began working with Partners overseas and the first clinic outside the UK were opened in Ireland. This was closely followed by clinics in Sri Lanka and Kenya.

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