Sexual health and wellbeing insights amongst migrant communities in Kent aged 45+

SHIFT - Sexual Health In the over ForTy-fives is part of the Interreg 2Seas Mers Zeeen programme and has been running from 1st March 2019 with completion by the 30th September 2022. It receives funding from the European Regional Development Fund, and collectively has a budget of over €4 million involving partners from the UK, the Netherlands, France and Belgium.

The aim of SHIFT is to empower people aged over 45 to improve their sexual health & wellbeing, and participate in sexual health services. It has additional and specific focus on socio-economically disadvantaged groups across the 2Seas area.

Studies in/beyond Europe (eg WHO's Sexual Health Throughout Life) highlight the need for older people to have better access to sexual health support/care. These identify that older age groups are rarely a focus in European & domestic policies across the 2Seas area. The correlation is clear between the rise in Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) rates and this gap in service use. The over-45s at greater risk are generally those entering new sexual relationships after a period of monogamy, often post-menopausal (removing the issue of pregnancy, without thought to STIs). Our engagement with relevant services suggests a lack of knowledge/tools for health services approaching the issue and offering information/treatment. Within this target group, partner research has shown that groups with one or more socio-economic disadvantages (homeless people/sex workers/non-native language speakers/migrants) are at even greater risk of being unaware of their sexual health and unable to access support or appropriate services.

Kent County Council's Public Health team are now seeking a Provider to support this project. This will require carrying out insight work with one of the target groups, namely the migrant population in Kent, and enabling individuals within this population group to participate and offer insights into their opinion and points of view regarding their sexual and reproductive health needs and how best Kent services can help meet those needs. Interested bidders can apply using the Kent Business Portal: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/