Our Impact: METRO’s sexual health events
Hertfordshire County Council commissions METRO Charity to deliver Sexual Health Education and Prevention Services. They recently held community outreach events to promote STI testing and have also allocated funding for targeted social media campaigns – in direct response to our Sexual Health Services Report.
Case Study: METRO’s Community STI Testing Event – Promoting Health and Awareness
In alignment with Hertfordshire’s new sexual health delivery plan, METRO’s outreach team have held community STI testing events at the Delta Refugee Hotel, Oaklands Colleges and The Hertfordshire University. Our goal was to provide a welcoming, accessible environment where clients/students/residents could receive free STI screenings, information on prevention resources, and essential sexual health education.
These events were well-attended by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, young adults, and individuals from areas with limited access to healthcare. Our team provided dual STI testing kits for HIV and Syphilis, as well as Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, empowering attendees to take control of their sexual health. In addition to testing resources, participants received free condoms, lubrication, and educational materials on PrEP, PEP, and safer sex practices.
For many, this event marked their first STI testing experience. Attendees expressed gratitude for the supportive environment and the opportunity to speak openly about sexual health. One participant noted, “Having this kind of service accessible and stigma-free made it easy for me to get tested and learn about prevention.”
Alongside direct testing services, METRO’s outreach team provided training and materials for local organisations, enabling them to act as distribution points for sexual health resources. This collaboration is essential in extending METRO’s reach and continuing to support Hertfordshire residents in managing their sexual health.
Our efforts to combine education with direct services are just part of the ongoing improvements in Hertfordshire’s sexual health services. By increasing awareness and accessibility, METRO and its partners are actively addressing gaps identified in the Healthwatch Report, supporting a healthier, more informed community.
In addition to these events, Hertfordshire County Council has created a range of new resources and information for community pharmacies. It is hoped that these will help more people access STI tests, with initiatives including pharmacy staff training and provision of shelf boxes, so people can take a test kit without needing to ask a member of staff.
Hertfordshire County Council commissions Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) to provide specialist sexual health services across the County, with centres in Watford, Stevenage and Hatfield and clinics in Elstree and Cheshunt. These offer access to free STI testing kits and contraception.
Since April 2023, METRO Charity has also been commissioned by the Council to deliver Sexual Health Education and Prevention Services, including outreach to those at higher risk of poor sexual health and they have recently produced this video to help raise awareness.
If your organisation has any examples of how our work at Healthwatch Hertfordshire has impacted the services you provide, or led to changes and improvements, we would love to hear about it.
Tell us your story at: impact@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk
