About us

Describe what you do day to day?

My role is to oversee the general wellbeing of the charity. As a result, I do a bit of everything. Sometimes I do project work, like seeing how well our projects are running, considering how else they might work. Another area I get involved in is finance – checking on our finances and the pipeline of project work. I get involved in fundraising for the charity, such as looking out for grants or contracts to fund existing or new projects. I also do a lot of external work, raising the profile of the charity and trying to influence decision makers about issues that affect our clients.

Fulfilling aspect of the role:

One of the main fulfilling aspects of the roles is when we get new pieces of work started. This is when we successfully get funding, following an application, and the work starts up as a new project. I like the sense of accomplishment from this, the sense of something new starting and how it manifests as a fresh line of work for the charity.

Challenges?

There is a lack of capacity in the core team and there is never enough resources for what the charity needs unfortunately. Trying to remedy this is tricky as it involves spending money.

Coming up?

I’m looking forward to our new project in Liverpool. The sexual health project is important work and we are intending to build upon our work there and to discover new opportunities in Liverpool in the next couple of years.

Describe what you do day to day?

I’m responsible for the PASH Partnership (Passionate about Sexual Health) a collaboration between BHA for Equality, LGBT Foundation, and George House Trust. At BHA, we offer free and confidential sexual health services, such as HIV/STI screening, free condoms, and information and advice to Black, Asian, and minority communities living in Greater Manchester. I manage a team of three Sexual Health Advisors, (SHA& HIV Testing Lead, SHA& Engagement Lead, and SHA& Inclusion Lead) and two Community Engagement & Development workers. Part of my work is also the collaboration and cooperation with different partners, organizations, and networks. Fulfilling aspect of the role:  We are making a difference by providing sexual health services in the community to Black, Asian, and minority ethnic individuals who may otherwise not have access to it. As we provide HIV and STI screening to people, information, and advice using different engagement approaches, between face-to-face and online interventions, we are contributing to improving the health of vulnerable groups.

Greatest achievements?

We have been able to create spaces of trust, through 121 interventions and group sessions, where we encourage people to think about their sexual health and get regular HIV/STI screening. These spaces offer an opportunity to normalize conversations about sexual health and reduce the stigma associated with it. The stigma can be down to culture, tradition, misinformation, or phobia of being exposed. Having open conversations breaks the barriers that lead to sexual health inequalities.

Challenges?

We cover the whole of Greater Manchester and there is a great deal of demand for our services.

Type of things coming up?

We are doing a PrEP Awareness campaign and joining the Sexual Health Week campaign and we are inviting influencers in our community to talk about sexual health and share the message of PrEP, a pill that can prevent HIV.    

Describe what you do day to day?

I work within the community empowering people to make informed decisions about their health specifically around screening and early detection of Cancer, to increase their chance of survival against the illness. The interactive awareness sessions give the community information on the three national screening programmes: bowel, breast and cervical cancer. We also offer advice and support on prostate cancer, as well has looking at early signs and symptoms as we know early detection saves lives. Unfortunately, discussing cancer is a taboo in some communities and it can be hidden, meaning that some people aren’t aware of the symptoms. We are keen to break down these taboos and work with the communities to find ways to address these.  Our sessions are bespoke and we work with varied communities including ethnic minority groups, carers, men, deprived communities and LGBTQ+ communities. We work in the heart of the communities with existing groups. We also take stalls in marketplaces and carnivals as part of our community outreach. All our sessions are interactive, and we try to make it as fun as possible.

Fulfilling aspect of the role:

I’m passionate about equality for all. Being able to help people take control of their own health is extremely rewarding. I love developing different ways of engaging with different communities to get the messages across and in a way they feel comfortable. The sessions are a learning place not only for the community but for me also. I learn something new from each group I deliver to. It's great to see people approaching me at the end and saying things like ‘I’ve never been for screening and ignored the letters, but I will definitely book mine now’, ‘I have had some of those symptoms and been ignoring them, now I will make an appointment and get it checked’.

Greatest achievements?

Breaking down some of the myths and misconceptions in the community and getting people to think about cancer as a curable disease if caught early on. The fear of death has stopped people coming forward - if they have early signs and just ignore them. We developed some Ramadan packs for the mosques during Ramadan, which contained information on the three national screening programmes and TB. These were given to mosques around Manchester and the Imaan at the mosques did a special sermon on the importance of Cancer screening. In Ramadan these mosques have hundreds of people coming for the special night prayers, so the message was being delivered to them at this time. Also working with Adult Education ‘Talk English Group’ developing bespoke training for those who English isn’t their first language. We developed pictorial games and interactive ways to get messages across.

Challenges?

There are challenges working with different communities with different cultural barriers around Cancer. It’s been challenging to find different ways of getting the message across, where the viewpoints have been embedded into communities for generations.  We have been working with the communities to find solutions to these.  Developing bespoke sessions for all the different communities has proven to be successful, everyone has different needs – it’s about equity which leads to equality.  

What you do day to day?

I have recently joined BHA and I manage a team of five who work in the community as Community Engagement & Development Officers. We look at how they can promote the sessions in the workplace. We are always looking for opportunities at events like the carnivals, festivals, shopping areas where we can reach many members of the Black, Asian & ethnic minority communities to raise awareness of breast, prostate and cervical cancers. One of my projects encouraging women to get their cervical screening checks and we’re planning more prostate cancer sessions for men. I will work with some of our prostate cancer champions to see what we can offer in male dominated environments.

Anticipate Challenges?

I like find a way of managing challenges when they arise and as a team we can manage to do the work that we need to do.

Describe what you do day to day?

I go into the community and encourage people to get screened for TB (Tuberculosis). The community work I manage involves taking stalls at events and different projects at centres such as The Manchester College, as well as refugee and asylum seeker groups in Manchester. My role is to assist the TB nurses at MRI Hospital. Patients come in and I can give them information in different languages – Arabic, Somalia, Urdu, Punjabi - which helps them feel more at ease.

Why is this important?

Because some communities are entering the country from other countries where TB is a problem. I help to kickstart the process of their screening, which is an involved process, but is important for them to get the opportunity to be diagnosed and prevent the spread of TB - from those who have an active form of TB. An added value of my role is that I can signpost patients to other activities like ESOL classes in the community, which can help them with learning of English.

Achievements?

I’m passionate about my work and people can see that. I am approachable and as such, people aren’t afraid of asking me questions. I’m a people person and have helped staff in the hospitals with advice on speaking to patients on TB matters. This role has helped me to feel valued -the nurses at MRI Hospital feel that I’m a valued team member there too.

Challenges?

There’s only myself doing this role three days a week and funding of this project is limited to that for the work that we are doing. I have a busy week and try to be flexible over which days I work, but it would be great to have more members on this team. The DNA (did not attend) rate of patients not turning up for appointments is high, so I have been speaking to patients over the phone in advance for their appointments to try to reduce this figure. There are 18,000 people on a waiting list for TB screening, as when they enter the UK from a country where TB rates are high they automatically get put onto the list. We get names of new entrants to Greater Manchester and the appointment waiting list for those is 6 – 12 months.

Type of events?

There are lots of community events  which take place in the Summer like the Mela in Platt Fields and the Caribbean festival in Alexandra Park, so I am usually there in person meeting people. When there I speak to some people who might be experiencing symptoms of TB that are prolonged and not going away. For example, this might be a cough, fever, weight loss, loss of appetite, night sweats and extreme tiredness.  

Describe what you do day to day?

I manage the different services within the Health Communities Directorate which promotes ways in which individuals can improve their health, including offering health education sessions on a range of conditions that are more common in Black, Asian and other minority groups.  Examples include Diabetes, Prostate Cancer, Tuberculosis and Long Covid.  We also carry out community research to collect the views of people across Manchester on accessing health services through our Manchester Race & Health Service.  Some of our services are delivered in partnership with others such as Answer Cancer, which aims to increase the uptake of breast, bowel and cervical screening across a range of different people eg different racial groups, LGBTQ, people with a disability, those with poor mental health.

Fulfilling aspect of the role:

The most fulfilling aspect of the role is managing a diverse team of individuals who reflect the communities that we engage with, who live in the areas that we deliver our services and can relate to local people. That basic starting point enables us to connect, learn, share information and hopefully encourage someone to make a change that improves their health. From our work on cancer it’s good to hear that delivering a cancer awareness session has led to someone taking up screening or that a Black man has had a early diagnosis of Prostate Cancer and gets treatment for it.

Greatest achievements?

Our work on cancer.  Black men are at a higher risk of Prostate Cancer and we’ve been leading on this work since 2016 without any involvement of the NHS. Similarly, in our work on other cancers we’ve successfully encouraged people to go for screening.  Our work on cancer clearly shows that BHA’s model of community engagement is effective. Our team is a small team, but we  deliver as if we are an army because of the personal commitment of staff.

Challenges?

There are many challenges in my role but I can always find solutions.  The biggest challenge for our team is to work with others to find practical solutions to deal with racial inequalities that still exist in health.

Coming up?

Across Manchester we are working with Big Life Centres and other partners to improve support services for people with Long Covid.  From our work we know that people need to understand the condition better and access services.  Also we will be involved in planning a campaign on prostate cancer in Black me with the NHS.

Describe what you do day to day?

My role involves the development of BHA’s sexual health services and management of our projects across Greater Manchester, Leeds, Wakefield and Liverpool. Our prevention services deliver activities and campaigns to raise awareness on maintaining good sexual health and provide community-based testing for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, LGBTQ and other groups who may be at increased risk or face additional challenges in accessing other health services.  Our HIV support projects deliver essential support services for people living with or affected by HIV and aim to support people to improve and maintain health and well-being.  A large part of the work that we do is aimed at challenging and reducing the stigma associated with sexual health and, living with HIV.

Fulfilling aspect of the role:

I enjoy working with our energetic and creative sexual health teams and working in partnership with a wide range of people and organisations.  I like having the opportunity within BHA to innovate and develop or adapt services so that they can be accessed and support a wide range of people and pilot new ideas.

Greatest achievements?

There’s a big sense of achievement when we launch and develop a new service, and it’s always great to develop new partnerships with people we haven’t worked with before, but there’s nothing more fulfilling than when we hear from our service users that our services have been valuable or made a difference to their health and well-being.

Challenges?

I think our teams always want to go that extra mile, they have so many good ideas and not being able to fulfil them due to capacity or funding restrictions can be frustrating at times.

Coming up?

The government has made a commitment to ending all new cases of HIV by 2030 and we are working with our local and national partners to achieve this, ensuring that no communities are left behind in reaching this ambition.

Describe what you do day to day?

As the HR Manager, I oversee all aspects of the HR functions.  I advise/support managers and pragmatically work through issues to support them to make decisions aligned with BHA’s values alongside HR legislation. We plan ahead and make sure we have structures in place to support staff going forward and ensure that we modernise our HR processes within current industry trends.  I update HR policies, ensuring that they are up to date with legislative changes, and making sure that policies are adhered to fairly and consistently across BHA. I manage all aspects of HR projects such as change management, TUPE, recruitment, employment law, training and development. Staff well-being is one of our top priorities for us and I ensure I provide information to our colleagues, and I coach/support colleagues to manage well-being effectively with current best practices. The role incorporates all aspects of HR; some payroll; employment contracts; Training; HR monitoring data, benchmarking; quality checks; ISO; H&S.

Greatest achievements?

I’m proud of the implementation of the self-service HR system which was implemented during lockdown. We moved from a predominantly paper-based system to a more efficient IT system. This increased efficiency for all departments as well as giving a positive environmental impact by going paperless. Indeed, how we coped during lockdown was notable for our ability to adapt to new systems when we were all working from home.

Challenges?

As a charity, we have limited funding which creates challenges in us delivering our services.  Our workforce is mainly made up of fixed-term P/T roles which is also challenging in relation to recruitment but on the positive, we can offer colleagues flexible way of working. We try to do a lot of staff engagement and take on board feedback in improving our work practices.

Coming up?

I’m hoping to implement an applicant tracking system for recruitment, as well as digitising the Right to Work and DBS referencing to improve efficiency in our recruitment as we operate from different localities. We are hoping to have one account centrally to be able to perform employment checks remotely, which will be much more progressive.

Describe what you do day to day?

I plan for engagement work in my boroughs of Bolton where we have group sessions, and Wigan where we run sessions, as well as Bury too. I give sexual health advice and offer HIV testing in those communities. I go to different venues where we target our community groups.

Fulfilling aspect of the role?

We dedicate time to engage with community members who want to talk to us. While we discuss sexual health, they often share their experiences related to issues like depression and immigration. We strive to make people feel better by listening to them. Some individuals fear getting tested, and we work to reassure them. When talking to someone facing challenges, it’s crucial for them to feel supported. We also plan to provide our resources, like contraception guides, in multiple languages to reach a diverse audience. I believe BHA is doing an incredible job in the community, and it's fantastic that this free service is well-received.

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Greatest achievements?

We’ve improved the testing service and initiated change. We actively promote our work through social media and filming reels, which many people watch. Our team is strong, and I believe my personal strength lies in engaging with the community. I can persuade new individuals I meet to take the test, even if they hadn’t planned to do so. Our passionate team works hard to spread the word about our services. I often run Q&A sessions with HIV-positive speakers, which encourages others who have the virus to hear their stories and keeps testing at the forefront of their minds. I aim to conduct these sessions quarterly through written content, online platforms, and podcasts.

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Challenges?

When you are passionate about doing something and you meet some people who agree to doing things, it is disappointing when it doesn’t happen and then it can become hard to reach the communities without full support. Some people find the sexual health conversation difficult and there’s still a stigma talking about sex and HIV, which we work hard to overcome.

Type of things coming up?

National HIV testing in Bolton.

Describe what you do day to day?

I coordinate BHA’s HIV and STI testing and work within the community to offer information and advice, as well as designing culturally appropriate health sessions for the communities we work with. Working in the community is the thing I love most. I do a lot of work with refugees and give them advice about speaking with the doctor. I create sessions that create a safe space for people to open up about their health, which I love as usually many of these communities don’t feel comfortable talking openly about health. I work predominantly with ESOL groups, delivering sessions to people from countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, Afghanistan and Syria.

Greatest achievements?

One of my greatest achievements is running a session in an ESOL group where I got a group of women to talk about their health for the first time. During the session we talked openly about symptoms, where many of the women realized they were going through perimenopause or experiencing symptoms of possible reproductive conditions such as endometriosis.

Challenges?

Gaining trust in the communities can be a challenge, especially when I come into the ESOL groups and they are nervous talking about health. Getting people to open up can be tricky. Sexual health is a big taboo for the communities I work with, and I work with them to overcome the stigma. I mainly cover sexual and reproductive health, as well as the signs and testing of reproductive cancers – cervical, testicular, breast and prostate cancer.

Anything coming up?

Something I’ve been working on for a hopeful launch later this year is a program of group sessions for parents on the Relationship & Sex Education school curriculum. The government changed the curriculum for schools in 2021 to be more inclusive and you can no longer withdraw a child from the sessions. Many parents are nervous or feel uncomfortable about this and are concerned about what their children are learning in schools. These sessions will aim to educate parents on the school curriculum, ease their fears and provide parents with the tools they need to speak to their children about relationships and sexual health.

Role: Community Engagement & Development Lead Describe what you do day to day? As part of the Answer Cancer programme we engage with local disadvantaged communities to raise awareness of the three NHS cancer screening programmes – bowel, cervical and breast cancer. We do this by running awareness sessions with groups and by holding information stalls at various community events. Our key objective is to encourage individuals to attend and partake in cancer screening appointments, where there’s typically low uptake. Fulfilling aspect of the role:  The idea that you could be making a positive difference in someone’s life and that early detection could potentially save someone’s life is very fulfilling. The number of people who say they’ve not been for screening or have ignored appointments is very high. Therefore, when you reach the point of having encouraged individuals who would not have otherwise done so, to attend/participate, it is very rewarding. The team have had feedback from individuals, who due to our intervention, have had cancer detected and they appreciated the info they received which led them to having their screening done. It’s also great to have the opportunity to discuss the barriers faced by different groups, and to then address ways in which to overcome some of these. Greatest achievements? Forging links and partnerships with some communities can be challenging but when we succeed at this it can have a very positive impact. Building a rapport and trust within communities is paramount especially as cancer is a sensitive topic and for some communities it’s a taboo topic. This is where the years of experience and expertise of the team are vital in ensuring we use the right approach for the different groups we work with. Challenges? Some people we meet have a fixed mindset and are not open to hearing about the benefits of screening, so we try to be as encouraging as possible whilst being empathetic towards their views. Sometimes people who share their personal experiences of cancer can get quite emotional, so we try to be sensitive towards this and share details of where they can get support where needed. Anything coming up? We always have sessions in the pipeline across Greater Manchester. We are working closely with a partnership working group looking to increase the uptake of cancer screening in Moss Side, Hulme and Rusholme with the African (Somali in particular) and Caribbean communities. We sit on committees and working groups to advise and get involved in joint working too.

How did you end up working in this field For years I have been working in the Health and Fitness Industry as a fitness / personal trainer and Strength & Conditioning Coach. I first transitioned into public health through my last role as a Children's Healthy Lifestyle Practitioner. Tell us something interesting about yourself I am the owner of a online vegan sweet shop called Sweetly Vegan where I sell a range of vegan products including Pick & Mixes, individual sweets and more. No gelatin, no animal products, great taste!

Tell us about your role at BHA I am an enhanced support worker, which entails working alongside the Brotherton Wing to re-engage individuals who have stopped receiving treatment. How did you end up working in this field I have spent the previous 12 years supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and mental health issues. I was looking for a new challenge, and thought the BHA would be a great way to apply what I have learnt in a new setting. Tell us something interesting about yourself I enjoy going hiking and photography.

How did you end up working in this field Transferred (TUPE) from Yorkshire MESMAC Tell us something interesting about yourself Graduated from State university of Georgia, I have a law degree. I used to sing, performed live in various venues. Used to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia as HIV prevention worker/volunteer for transgender sex worker community.

How did you end up working in this field I have always had a great interest in supporting the well being of people living with HIV and ensuring that adequate information reaches the targeted community. Tell us something interesting about yourself I am a dedicated Community HIV Activist, deeply involved in various responsibilities that contribute to the fight against HIV. Currently, I serve as the Chair of the One Voice Network, where I lead efforts to unify and amplify the voices of those affected by HIV. Additionally, I hold an Expert Advisory role with the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights. In this capacity, I provide strategic guidance and expertise on issues related to HIV and human rights, helping to shape policies and initiatives that promote health equity and justice for all individuals affected by HIV. I enjoy fitness exercise, knitting, cooking, and poetry writing.

How did you end up working in this field My background is working with community/community to raise awareness and improve their Health. Tell us something about yourself I enjoy working with people. Can speak other languages i.e Punjabi and Urdu.

How did you end up working in this field I have always had a passion for co-producing public health interventions with local communities. Over the years, I have gained more understanding and respect for the health needs that impact marginalized societies. This has fueled my desire to continue working towards solving health inequalities and BHA provided the perfect opportunity for me to peruse that.

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Tell us something interesting about yourself I think i smile at least 42 times a day

How did you end up working in this field As the Community Engagement and Development Lead at BHA For Equality, I play a pivotal role in fostering awareness and action around prostate cancer within Communities of Colour. My mission is to bridge the gap between these communities and crucial health information, ensuring that everyone has access to life-saving knowledge about prostate cancer risks, symptoms, and early detection. My journey begins with developing and implementing dynamic, community-based outreach strategies. Recognising the unique cultural and social fabric of Communities of Colour, I tailor these strategies to resonate deeply and effectively. Whether it's through a grassroots campaign or leveraging digital platforms, my goal is to make prostate cancer awareness accessible and relatable. One of the most fulfilling aspects of my role is building robust partnerships with a diverse array of stakeholders. From community organisations and faith-based groups to healthcare providers, I create a network of allies united by a common cause. These collaborations are essential in amplifying our message and ensuring it reaches the hearts and minds of our target audiences. Organising and delivering educational workshops, presentations, and events is where I see the immediate impact of our efforts. I design these sessions to be informative, engaging, and culturally sensitive, ensuring that they address the specific concerns and realities of Communities of Colour. By providing tailored information, we empower individuals with the knowledge they need to make informed health decisions. To ensure our initiatives are effective, I rigorously evaluate our outreach and awareness campaigns. This involves gathering feedback, analysing data, and continuously refining our approaches. My commitment to improvement means that we can adapt and enhance our strategies to better serve our communities. Advocacy is another cornerstone of my role. I champion policies and services that address the unique needs of Communities of Colour regarding prostate cancer. Tell us something interesting about yourself I am a dynamic individual with a genuine passion for improving health outcomes. My experience in community engagement and development, particularly within BME communities, has equipped me with the skills to address health disparities effectively. I excel in networking, initiating change, and advocating for tailored healthcare services. My communication skills enable me to tackle complex health issues sensitively and engage diverse audiences. I have a proven track record of presenting and speaking at national and international conferences, including the Fast Track Cities conference in Amsterdam, where I showcased my achievements in engaging African men living with HIV. "

Tell us about your role at BHA As a Sexual Health Lead, I am responsible for the initiation and development of Sexation. I adopt a co-productive approach when working within the community, aiming to integrate sexual health into every aspect of our lives, rather than treating it as an isolated topic. How did you end up working in this field Over 16 years ago, during a placement at BHA on a sexual health project, I found inspiration that has since guided my career. As I've worked in various community roles since then, I consistently integrated sexual health into my responsibilities. Tell us something interesting about yourself I am a Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist, passionate about helping clients use their challenges as a catalyst for growth and transformation.

How did you end up working in this field With an MSc in Public Health and a passion for supporting underrepresented populations, I became the Community Engagement and Development Lead to bridge gaps in healthcare access, reduce health inequalities, and advocate for inclusive community support initiatives. I hope to achieve a more equitable health landscape where every individual, regardless of their background, has access to quality healthcare services. By fostering strong community partnerships and promoting health education, I aim to empower marginalised groups, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs met. My goal is to create sustainable programs that improve overall community well-being and drive long-term positive change. Tell us something interesting about yourself I enjoy volunteering and have extensive experience working with people from different backgrounds. Having worked in the NHS for 12 years, I gained an understanding of how health and wellbeing impact people's lives. This exposure has enriched my understanding of diverse health challenges and solutions, inspiring me to bring innovative and culturally sensitive approaches to my role as Community Engagement and Development Lead. I am looking forward to supporting communities in creating interventions to prevent diseases and prolong lives.

Tell us about your role at BHA As an Administrative Assistant, I support our Community Engagement Workers and Sexual Health Leads with their day-to-day tasks, such as financial administration, data reporting and resource management. This provides them with extra time to complete more important tasks out in the field. I am also responsible for social media management across all the accounts affiliated with BHA Greater Manchester and BHA Liverpool, with the aim to maximise exposure and social engagement for the company. How did you end up working in this field? After spending most of my working life in the hospitality sector I wanted a role that was more fulfilling. BHA have given me the opportunity to use my skills in a new and more exciting way. I have always had an interest and a passion for sexual health and I feel privileged to be a small part of the great work that BHA carry out. Tell us something interesting about yourself I have a black belt in Kung Fu, but I wouldn't hurt a fly.

Tell us about your role at BHA I lead and support the Leeds and Wakefield team to provide support to people living with HIV and prevention in Wakefield. I also provide safeguarding support and support to the volunteers and clients, where needed. In addition, I sit on the FastTrack Cities Leadership group and lead in the FastTrack Cities anti-stigma sub group, working to reduce HIV, TB and viral transmissions and stigma by 2030. How did you end up working in this field I started my career supported autistic adult with learning disabilities and quickly realized that I wanted to do more to challenge health inequalities and the determinants to wellbeing many people experience. This resulted in me seeking a path in advocacy within the third sector. Tell us something interesting about yourself I am an avid history enthusiast, I enjoy philosophy of religion and collecting mythology stories from around the world.

How did you end up working in this field I have worked in a few different charities doing work around sexual health, consent, healthy relationships and domestic abuse. I became interested in sexual health through learning about the sex education system in university when studying feminism and women's sexuality. Tell us something interesting about yourself I have two guinea pigs; Freya and Nova, and in my spare time I enjoy singing and dancing.

Tell us about your role at BHA I am the Programme Lead for Coventry and Warwickshire Sexual Health How did you end up working in this field I started my career working in policy advocacy for adult education provision, and spent a lot of time advocating for better sexual health education for adults, especially adults with learning disabilities. I have since worked with adults with learning disabilities and people with mental health conditions, facilitating them to campaign and self-advocate for safer, happier, healthier lives (including their sexual health and wellbeing). Tell us something interesting about yourself I'm a ferocious knitter and crocheter and always have at least 3 projects on the go.

Tell us about your role at BHA As a Community Engagement and Development Worker Lead, my aim is to reduce health inequalities for marginalised communities in Coventry and Warwickshire. I do this by making links with community stakeholders and co-producing services to improve access to information, resources and testing.

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How did you end up working in this field My BSc in Sexual Health Studies and experience teaching RSE in schools and the community, enhanced my passion and knowledge in this field. My background in chil rotection, sexual violence, and mental health has made me deeply committed in breaking down barriers, improving accessibility and inclusivity of healthcare and challengin stigma. Empowering others to make informed decisions around their health and wellbeing is so rewarding and this role offers me a great opportunity to connect with communities so we can work together towards better outcomes.

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Tell us something interesting about yourself I am an avid collector of antique glassware and jewellery and enjoy searching vintage fairs and markets for my next find.  

Tell us about your role at BHA I support people to get on top of all the complicated issues that get in the way of living well with HIV. Anything could come up- so this involves a lot of signposting and helping people get expert advice.  

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How did you end up working in this field I was a Mental Health Support Worker before & facilitated an LGBTQIA+ group in Skyline premises. I really liked the team and the ethos of Skyline so when a job came up I applied.

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Tell us something interesting about yourself I'm passionate about kid's fiction, especially LGBTQIA+ representation in kid's books, sci-fi & fantasy. I carry Emergency Nuts at all times - they are brilliant for when I can't decide what I want for lunch.  

Tell us about your role at BHA I have joined the BHA team from the Coventry and Warwickshire Sexual Health Hubs to continue delivering and develop our clinical outreach service.

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How did you end up working in this field I have worked in C&W Sexual Health outreach since 2018. My background is Psychology, which has led me to especially enjoy supporting young people. This role has allowed me to continue that work and expand in many different ways.

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Tell us something interesting about yourself As well as being a mum to two beautiful boys, I am huge animal lover and am a fur mum to a dog, a kitten, 2 guinea pigs and 2 tarantulas!!

Tell us about your role at BHA I help keep things running smoothly behind the scenes - supporting HR, the senior team, and day-to-day operations. It's a mix of admin, coordination, and making sure everyone has what they need to do their best work!

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How did you end up working in this field I have a really varied work history but mostly recently have been using my admin skills within a professional services environment, while running creative workshops in community and charity organisations. This role felt like a natural fit, bringing together my organisational skills and passion for working in purpose-led organisations.

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Tell us something interesting about yourself I love creative writing - and I'm working on a novel! I'm having fun doing it without any pressure, but I do hope to one day grace the bookshelves of my favourite bookshops.

Tell us about your role at BHA I work as a Community Engagement and Development Worker at BHA. My role involves outreach, sex education, STI testing, and some research as well.

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How did you end up working in this field I love working with people and care deeply about the wellbeing of ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. I'm also passionate about promoting sexual health across all walks of life. I’m really glad that my values align with BHA’s mission, and I’m happy to be working for a diverse and inclusive charity like BHA.

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Tell us something interesting about yourself I grew up in Hong Kong, a culturally diverse city in East Asia. My background has made me really interested in different cultures, histories, and people’s individual stories. So when we meet, feel free to share anything about yourself, I’d be glad to hear your story, whether it’s big or small.

How did you end up working in this field Following my MSc in Sexual Health Studies, I have been able to apply my theoretical knowledge through practical, community-based outreach and engagement. I am deeply passionate about supporting the sexual and reproductive health of minoritised communities and hope to build on my previous and ongoing research and practice.

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Tell us something interesting about yourself I have a qualitative research background with much of my study pertaining to sexual wellbeing amongst faith communities, the LGBTQ+ community and those that navigate both/multiple marginalising identities.

Tell us about your role at BHA I am a Sexual Health Lead at BHA. In this role I lead on our PrEP project which improves education, access and uptake around PrEP in Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities. I also run community engagement sessions in Trafford, delivering HIV and STI testing, 121s and group sessions to a range of different services and venues. These sessions create awareness around HIV, sexual health and other topics like menopause and women's health. In Trafford I often focus on developing work with asylum seekers and refugees, such as running sessions in asylum seeker drop-ins and organising HIV and STI test drop-ins in different temporary accommodations and hotels.

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How did you end up working in this field Before BHA I worked in Sheffield on a health in marginalised communities project, assessing barriers to healthcare for specific minoritised ethnic communities in Sheffield. I also volunteered with a women's refugee group, delivering sessions and activities from women's health to food, music and culture. Working at BHA is an amazing opportunity to work within these passions and develop new and exciting ways to deliver education in community settings with vibrant and wonderful people.

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Tell us something interesting about yourself In my free time I volunteer with MASH, supporting women who sex work through a harm-reduction night van service. I love music, vintage clothes & reading.