| Title | July–September 2025 GM Newsletter |
|---|---|
| Author/Publisher | BHA for Equality |
| Date Published | September 2025 |
| Audience | Greater Manchester communities, especially those interested in sexual health and equality |
| Main Topics | Sexual Health Week, STI Testing, PrEP, Hepatitis B, Summer Festivals, Women’s Empowerment |
| Location Focus | Greater Manchester, UK |
| Website | thebha.org.uk |
| Key Campaign Theme | “Chronically Online” (Sexual Health Week 2025) |
🧠 Sexual Health Week 2025: “Chronically Online”
- Focused on the impact of digital life on sexual health.
- Topics included online dating, safety, misinformation, AI, deepfakes, and image sharing.
- BHA ran a high-engagement social media campaign with 2 videos per day.
- Outreach stalls provided free condoms, resources, and advice.
- Events held across Trafford, Manchester, Bolton, and Rochdale.
🧪 STI Testing & Condom Access
- Click + Collect Condoms: 40 condoms + 10 lubes available via online form and discreet pickup.
- Home Full-Screen STI Tests: Tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B & C, and HIV.
- Monthly Drop-In Testing: Held at Limelight Health & Wellbeing Hub, first Monday of each month.
🎉 Summer Festivals & Community Engagement
- BHA attended MELA Festival, Melanin Markets, Manchester Carnival, and Black Girls Hike Nature Festival.
- Provided free HIV/STI testing, resources, and sexual health advice.
- Collaborated with The Hepatitis C Trust and Healthy Communities Team.
🧬 Hepatitis B Project
- Marked World Hepatitis Day (28 July) with multilingual social media posts.
- Hep B remains underdiagnosed in minoritised ethnic communities.
- BHA is developing tailored resources using hospital questionnaires and focus groups.
✍️ Sexation: Erotic Writing Workshop
- Led by Almaz Ohene, focused on sexual expression through writing.
- Participants reported increased motivation to protect themselves and openness to discuss sexual health.
🎙️ PrEP Project & Podcast: “The Power to Prevent”
- Episode 2 featured Dr Tihesia Riley discussing sexual health in minoritised communities.
- Emphasized PrEP as a tool for empowerment and autonomy in women’s health.
- New episodes planned for the next quarter.
👩🎨 Women’s Empowerment Sessions
- Creative workshops including embroidery and collaging.
- Focused on autonomy and self-led session planning.
- 15 women participated in recent sessions.
🔜 Upcoming Events & Initiatives
- GM Testing Week 2025: 24–30 November – increased outreach and testing.
- World AIDS Day Vigil: 1 December at Sackville Gardens, Manchester.
- Smoking Cessation Project: Partnership with Love Cafe in Salford.
- BHA’s 35-Year Anniversary: Celebrated during Black History Month with the theme “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”.
🔗 External Links
- Order Condoms – Click & Collect
- BHA for Equality Website
File Type:
pdf
File Size:
27 MB
Categories:
GM PaSH
