SHout loud stands for Sexual Health out loud. It's a collaborative campaign between six leading sexual health and HIV organisations. The project is funded by the Department of Health. SHout loud helps you have a say about sexual health, contraception and HIV services in England.
More and more, decisions are made at a local level about what areas of healthcare get the most attention and investment. There are still a few national targets, but how these get addressed locally is up to PCTs and the local council. They can also decide on any local targets specific to their area.
In sexual health, the national targets look at reducing teenage pregnancy and increasing the number of young people screened for chlamydia. PCTs also have to make sure that local people can be seen at a GUM clinic within 48 hours. While these are really important issues to address, there are other equally important areas of sexual health that sometimes don't get the attention they deserve locally.
Over a quarter of people with HIV don't know they have it, rates of many STIs continue to rise and access to a full range of contraceptive choices remains patchy across the country. Sexual health matters.
But because people often don't feel comfortable speaking out about sexual health, local decision-makers sometimes think they don't care very much about it. As there's less money to go around, it's really important that the NHS and local authorities get local support to invest in sexual health and HIV services, to make sure we have services that will improve England's sexual health in the long-term.
SHout loud is designed to support communities and individuals to get involved in decision-making and speak out about sexual health and HIV as important local issues. Your MP, PCT and local authority all have a responsibility to listen to local people's views. By speaking up about sexual health, we can show them that it matters to local people and work with them to ensure sexual health, HIV and contraception services get the attention they deserve.
Together we can improve sexual health in our community.
Information on the six organisations involved:
The African Health Policy Network (AHPN) is an alliance of various African community-based organisations and their members who collaboratively work for fair policies for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in the UK, providing various services such as training, support, research and information. AHPN is the only organisation within the UK whose work is dedicated to policy, advocacy and representation at national level, its main focus being HIV and the Sexual Health of Africans in the UK.
The AHPN focuses on empowering communities to actively respond to HIV/AIDS. Our organisation comprises of individuals, forums, organisations and various communities, who work together towards a shared vision. We believe that effective advocacy must be inclusive of the voice of those most vulnerable to HIV. Given the level of stigma that exists within African communities and in the wider social and political context advocacy can mean exposing yourself as HIV positive and/or a migrant. The conclusion for many Africans living with and/or affected by HIV is that participation in informing policy and advocacy activities can mean exposing oneself to being discriminated against. As such the AHPN's capability to effectively advocate on their behalf is critical.
Brook provides sexual health services and advice for all young people under 25. Brook services provide free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counseling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and outreach and education work.
fpa is one of the UK's leading sexual health charities. Our mission is to help establish a society in which everyone has positive, informed and non-judgmental attitudes to sex and relationships; where everyone can make informed choice about sex and reproduction so that they can enjoy sexual health free from prejudice and harm. We provide a range of information, education and support services, including:
- A broad range of publications and educational resources
- A national helpline on all aspects of sexual health.
- A national library and information service
- High quality non-clinical sexual health training for professionals
- Community-based sex and relationships education projects both for young people and for parents.
We also run public awareness and prevention campaigns and high profile media campaigns on all aspects of sexual health
The Medical Foundation for AIDS & Sexual Health (MedFASH) is a charity dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the healthcare of people affected by HIV, sexually transmitted infections and related conditions. It develops and disseminates information and practical guidance for health professionals and policy-makers, fosters communication and collaboration within and beyond the healthcare sector, and builds links between practice and policy.
NAT is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming society's response to HIV. We provide fresh thinking, expert advice and practical resources. We campaign for change.
Shaping attitudes. Challenging injustice. Changing lives.
Terrence Higgins Trust is one of the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charities, providing a wide range of services to over 50,000 people a year. The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual ill health.
