Breaking down barriers to accessing health services
Trade is a health and wellbeing charity, based in Leicester and working across the East Midlands.
Gavin highlights success of peer support programme
We spoke with Gavin Brown, Chief Executive Officer at Trade to find out how the charity has grown and developed over its 30 years…
A long-standing Reaching People member, Trade has more than 30 years’ experience of working to prevent HIV and improve sexual health, especially with the LGBTQ+ community. Its mission is to tackle health inequalities by providing high quality, person-centred health and wellbeing services (especially to the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV).
“At Trade, we’ve been supporting individuals and communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire since the early 1990s, with HIV prevention and peer support remaining a central part of our work. We’ve expanded and strengthened our HIV peer support services across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, working closely alongside local HIV clinics as part of a growing regional approach to support and prevention.
“Trade’s work aligns with the national HIV Action Plan, which aims to reduce new HIV transmissions to as close to zero as possible by 2030. A major focus of the programme is reaching people who may be less likely to access testing, particularly women.
“Leicester is one of 34 local authority areas across the country identified as having a higher-than-average HIV prevalence rate, leading to the introduction of opt-out HIV testing within A&E departments. Initially piloted in cities such as Manchester and Birmingham, the initiative has proven highly effective in identifying people living with HIV earlier and connecting them with treatment and support.
“Trade’s peer support programme helps people adjust following a diagnosis and understand that HIV is now a much more manageable long-term condition thanks to significant advances in treatment. However, although outcomes and life expectancy for people living with HIV continue to improve, stigma and misconceptions surrounding HIV still remain.
“Through our peer-to-peer support, individuals are able to speak openly with people who have lived experience, helping them navigate difficult conversations, understand what changes they may face and gain reassurance about living a healthy and fulfilling life. The charity also supports individuals who may be at risk of disengaging from treatment, helping them remain connected to both clinical care and wider wellbeing services.
“We continue to work closely with clinical teams across Leicester and Northamptonshire, whilst also encouraging self-referrals directly through the charity. In Northamptonshire, around a third of clients now self-refer, demonstrating the trust and value people place in community-led support services.
“While sexual health remains central to our mission, the organisation continues to evolve as a broader health and wellbeing charity supporting the LGBTQ+ community and wider populations through education, support and advocacy.”
Talking about Trade’s engagement as a Reaching People member, Gavin added: “When I started as CEO at Trade, after 30 years working in the higher education sector, I found the Reaching People monthly CEO meetings invaluable in helping me to find my feet in the voluntary sector and seek support from my peers.”
To read more about Trade, visit the website here. To get in touch with the Trade team about the peer support programme, contact peersupport@wearetradehealth.co.uk
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