Webinar: Understanding HIV testing in England 

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National HIV Testing Week is a key moment to raise awareness, reduce stigma and make it easier for people to access an HIV test. It’s also an opportunity to understand what’s working, identify changes in testing trends, highlight gaps where more effort is needed and explore ways to further improve access to testing. 

On Wednesday 11 February 2026 (12:30-13:30pm), HIV Prevention England is hosting a webinar presented by Dr Alison Brown, Consultant Scientist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), on the findings from the UKHSA’s Understanding HIV testing in England: 2025 report. The session will explore what latest surveillance and service data tells us about HIV testing in England across a range of settings and consider the implications for commissioning, community action and service optimisation. 

Register:  HIV Prevention England: Understanding HIV testing in England 2025 report  

Why this webinar matters 

Making HIV testing accessible is pivotal to achieving the HIV Action Plan’s goal of ending HIV transmissions in England by 2030.  

Understanding how testing is being delivered and where barriers persist helps us all target efforts where it will have the greatest impact. 

The UKHSA’s Understanding HIV testing in England: 2025 report provides the most comprehensive analysis of testing activity and outcomes across different routes and services. Expect discussion of what the data suggests about reach, coverage and variation, as well as what should be considered to expand and improve access to testing, particularly for target groups and in locations where testing uptake remains lower. 

Who should attend 

This session is aimed at: 

  • Clinicians working in and alongside sexual health, primary care, emergency care and other relevant services 
  • Commissioners and system leaders planning pathways, resources and local HIV testing and prevention strategies 
  • Community organisations supporting testing, outreach and engagement 

Whether you deliver tests directly, commission services, or support communities to access care, this webinar will provide valuable insights to inform and support your work. 

What we’ll cover 

The webinar will explore: 

  • What the report shows about where HIV testing is happening across England 
  • Insights into variation and inequalities in testing access and outcomes
  • What the findings imply for service design, commissioning and partnership working 
  • Practical considerations for improving reach and strengthening routes into care 

There will be an opportunity to ask questions during the session.  

Register

Register:  HIV Prevention England: Understanding HIV testing in England 2025 report  

Date: Wednesday 11 February 2026
Time: 12:30 until 13:30pm

If you’re involved in HIV prevention, this is a timely opportunity to hear directly from UKHSA, connect the national picture to local planning, and take forward actions that make testing easier, more routine, and more equitable. 

National HIV Testing Week kicks off Monday 9 February 2026

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The next edition of National HIV Testing Week (NHTW) will run from 9–15 February 2026. NHTW is an annual campaign that promotes and encourages regular HIV testing across England. It is particularly targeted at groups most affected by HIV, including gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), and heterosexuals of Black African ethnicity.

People will be encouraged to order a free HIV test kit from freetesting.hiv or to get tested in any other way that is convenient for them.

The campaign will use the tagline “I Test”, with a variety of sub-messages reflecting people’s different motivations for testing. Featuring a diverse range of models to resonate with and represent the target audiences, the campaign will run across outdoor advertising, targeted broadcast, digital and social media, press and PR.

Get involved

 

EVENT: Improving PrEP access among marginalised communities

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HIV Prevention England Improving PrEP access among marginalised communities, Wednesday 17 September 2025, Birmingham

Join professionals, community members, and organisations from across the HIV sector for an in-person event focused on improving access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for marginalised groups.

When: Wednesday 17th September 2025, 09:00 – 17:30
Where: Clayton Hotel, Birmingham, Albert Street, Birmingham, B5 5JE

Hosted by HIV Prevention England, will enable professionals to,

  • share ongoing work aimed at improving PrEP access for marginalised groups,
  • discuss findings from research and initiatives investigating PrEP access and uptake
  • look ahead to what actions could be taken in the sector to ensure more equitable access to PrEP.

The UK aims to end HIV transmissions by 2030 and we know that PrEP will play a significant role in our ability to achieve this. However, we are currently not on track to meet the 2030 target, and the significant inequalities in PrEP knowledge, access, and uptake among marginalised groups continue to hinder progress and cause concern for those communities’ wellbeing.

Takeaways from the day will include:

  • The latest UKHSA data on PrEP need and uptake across different marginalised communities.
  • A better understanding of marginalised communities knowledge and attitudes towards PrEP use via research and lived experience case studies.
  • Increased knowledge of innovative projects from both community based organisations and providers to increase PrEP knowledge and access, including online PrEP provision.

Share your work via a poster

We are inviting people to share their work on this issue, whether completed or ongoing, primarily as posters that will be displayed and discussed at the event. Download and complete the poster submission template to apply. All costs associated with producing and printing the posters will be covered by HPE.