What’s on for World AIDS Day?
November 2023
Welcome to our World AIDS Day special edition newsletter
You can find the following updates below, click the link to skip straight to it:
What’s on for World AIDS Day?
World AIDS Day is fast approaching! Your support of the HIV sector in raising awareness of HIV and reducing HIV stigma is vital. Discover how you can make a difference by exploring charity and local events on the Fast Track Cities ‘What’s on for World AIDS Day’ events. Together, let’s raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and foster a more inclusive and compassionate city.
Visit the Fast Track Cities London website to find out how you can get involved and be a part of the change.
A look back at #REDRUN last weekend
Red Run last weekend was a great success, bringing people together to raise over £230,000 for over 30 participating charities! The day served as a great opportunity to reflect and commemorate on the past as well as celebrating the achievements to date as we look toward the future.
We spoke to Steve Worall from Positive East and our HIV Ambassadors on the day, asking them why events like Red Run are so important to the community.
Take a look!
Opt-out HIV testing extended to 46 emergency departments across England!
Figures released by NHS earlier pilots have identified more than 3,500 cases of the three bloodborne infections since April 2022, including more than 580 HIV cases.
Following yesterdays government’s announcement, opt-out testing will now be available in areas such as the West Midlands, Liverpool and Leicester, where HIV prevalence is classed as high.
It is being funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
More on the story found on BBC here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67555895
PrEP Awareness Week
It’s PrEP Awareness Week. You can help spread the message about PrEP, by downloading the social media assets from the Get on PrEP website below.
Spead the word!
RiiSH 2023 survey closes today!
The ‘Reducing Inequalities in Sexual Health’ (RiiSH) 2023 survey is now live and closes this Thursday (30th November). If you’re a man, trans woman, or non-binary person assigned male at birth, aged 16 or above, and residing in the UK, your insights are crucial. This quick, 10-minute survey explores thoughts on STIs, recent sexual activity, and use of sexual health services.
The survey is completely anonymous. Conducted by University College London (UCL) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), your contribution makes a difference!
Thank you for submitting a grant application!
Thank you to everyone who applied for our Getting to Zero grant programme. The calibre of the applications we received was exceptionally high, showcasing a wealth of fantastic ideas and initiatives. Your dedication to driving positive change is evident, and we are thrilled to have such a diverse community of partners working towards a common goal. The evaluation process is underway, and the selection committee is working with applicants on shaping successful programmes.
We are planning to announce the new grant programmes in January. Once again, thank you for your support and for contributing to the success of the Getting to Zero initiative.
Looking ahead at primary and secondary Care
Primary care plays a crucial part in the success of achieving goals to end HIV transmissions by 2030. The HIV GP Champion Programme is a new one-year project that offers GPs the opportunity to improve care for people living with HIV. Applications have now closed and we received a large number from all ICSs in London. A huge thank you to all who helped circulate the job advert! We’ll be announcing the network of champions in the new year!
In secondary care, we carried out a survey inviting women who were referred to colposcopy services to share their views about possible additional testing which could form part of the programme in future. The data from this is currently being evaluated and we will provide the findings to all sites once the report is ready in the new year!
New Training Course
Free training course and short film to improve access to health and care for people facing multiple disadvantage
The Homeless Health London Partnership has a free training course and short film ‘Searching for Answers’ designed to improve health and social care services for people facing multiple disadvantage.
The free e-learning course is open for enrolment and provides client-facing practitioners with valuable insights into the lived experiences of people facing homelessness and useful topics including trauma-informed care.
Enrol in the free training below.
Follow us on LinkedIn!
Fast-Track Cities London is now on LinkedIn. Follow us to stay up to date with what’s happening and for some of our longer form content and case studies.
Click below to follow
Other upcoming milestones and news
- World AIDS Day – 1st December
- London Health & Wellbeing Board – 11th December
- Fast Track Cities 6th Anniversary – 20th January
- National HIV Testing Week – 5th-11th February
