PaSH Partnership Newsletter Summary – December 2020

Key Facts

Black History Month Activities

• BHA staff created a Black History Month calendar of events for October
• Hosted a special Breast Cancer awareness event
• PaSH hosted an Instagram Live session about Henrietta Lacks as part of the #Intalks series
• Session explored black women’s consent in medicine and community mistrust of the health sector
• Received positive feedback with 47 views and comments praising the educational content

Sexpression Conference Participation

• BHA presented at the annual Sexpression conference
• Delivered a 30-minute presentation on “Hard to Reach Populations – How hard have you tried to reach”
• Presentation was viewed by 22-30 people
• Received positive feedback, especially for the case studies provided

Award-Winning Campaign

• “HIV: Let’s sort this Together” campaign won Best Health and Beauty Campaign at the Northern Marketing Awards 2020
• Collaboration between PaSH Partnership and Hitch Marketing
• Campaign used local people in imagery to promote a simple message
• Aimed to inspire action to reduce HIV transmission rates
• Co-produced with members of the public to be inspiring and fun, moving away from scaremongering

Greater Manchester HIV Testing Week

• PaSH founded the first Greater Manchester HIV Testing Week
• Goal was to increase HIV testing and awareness of HIV status
• Campaign offered online provision of home HIV tests
• Promoted through social media, webinars, Instagram Live sessions, and local media
• Campaign materials were engaging, colorful, and appealing
• Successfully launched online testing through ‘sorthiv’ and BHA websites
• High audience engagement on platforms like Spotify with 35,000 impressions

Virtual Services and Adaptations

• LGBT Foundation now running virtual testing sessions
• Offering full sexual health screening kits to LGBT people and MSM in Greater Manchester
• Continuing to provide free postal condoms, lube, and play packs
• George House Trust expanded online events via Zoom including fitness classes, meditation, mental health sessions, and social events
• Formula milk service expanded to cover 9 out of 10 Greater Manchester local authorities

HIV Awareness Initiatives

• BHA supported the ‘PrEP Protects’ campaign focused on Black African communities
• Hosted Instagram Live sessions with HIV advocates like Simon Collins
• Discussed topics including HIV treatment, current landscape, and future of medicine
• Addressed barriers to sexual health services for BAME women
• First-ever online World AIDS Day Vigil held on December 1st
• Monthly episodes of ‘The Tip’ premiered on Instagram Live to educate LGBTQIA+ communities

Links

• HIV: Let’s sort this together campaign video
• Online HIV testing service
• World AIDS Day Vigil recording