Guest post by the charity Brook
The new Adult (18+) Barnet Targeted Community HIV Prevention Service commissioned by the London Borough of Barnet, officially launched on the 1st of June 2021 and is being delivered by the charity Brook, which has over 55 years’ experience delivering sexual health and wellbeing services and has led similar digital initiatives in other London boroughs. The new initiative will use digital platforms to encourage residents to test for HIV, helping reduce rates of late diagnosis, raise awareness among communities through social media campaigns, as well as directly engaging with those at risk from HIV on dating apps and sign posting them to local sexual health services.
The overall aim of the service is to contribute to a reduction in late diagnosis of HIV in core communities by increasing knowledge about undiagnosed HIV through, increasing knowledge of the benefits of an earlier HIV diagnosis and providing information about HIV testing services for people living in the borough through direction engagement and wider sexual health prevention channels.
The Service will provide free bespoke trainings on a range of sexual health topics to professionals from all sectors in Barnet to build their confidence and knowledge to be able to adequately support their service users. The trainings can also be specifically tailored to individual organisation’s needs.
The training themes will cover, but not limited to,
- HIV awareness
- HIV Risk assessment and Prevention
- Understanding HIV transmission, Testing and Treatment
- Stigma and changing attitudes around HIV
- Working with people living with HIV
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and U=U (Undetectable =Untrasmittable)
- Referrals and signposting
The service is looking to recruit, train and work with Barnet residents who would like to volunteer as Community Champions. These individuals will be supported to cascade positive health messages to residents of Barnet. Interested candidates who are keen to make a difference in their community can indicate their interest by filling out this short form. More information about the community champion role can be found here.
The Service will work together with local sexual health clinics and providers in Barnet to provide seamless signposting/referral of individuals into services and promote usage of local clinical HIV/sexual health services effectively; Conduct Information, advice, and guidance events in form of outreach/drop-in sessions embedded within organisation, businesses, and centres in Barnet to provide support around all aspects of sexual health and wellbeing.
If you would like to know more or have questions or feedback on the service, please contact Christopher or Muna on barnethps@brook.org.uk.