fighting stigma in 23/24

Brook recognises stigma as a key driver of health inequality, particularly in sexual and mental health. Stigma can lead to silence and shame, hinder open discussions and prevent people from seeking support.  

In 23/24 we have been working harder than ever to break this cycle by normalising access to sexual and mental health services, facilitating conversations to remove shame and embarrassment, and equipping professionals, parents, carers and families with the tools to challenge stigma. 

In our 60^th year, amidst increasing attacks on sexual and reproductive rights, we continue to stand up and speak out about issues that many still consider too risky or taboo.  

Explore our strategy to learn more about our plans to fight stigma. 

Challenging perceptions of sexual and reproductive health

Safer Sex Rules

In 2023, we were proud to launch our new national clinical campaign Safer Sex Rules, to promote condoms, increase testing and normalise sexual health as a core part of ongoing healthcare.  

In its first year, we reached more than 100,000 people through our digital campaign as well as creating bespoke branded materials for our clinical spaces. Safer Sex Rules will now feature annually, raising Brook’s profile as clinical experts and promoting vital safer sex messaging throughout the busy festive season.  

Playing it Safe for Sexual Health Week 2023

For Sexual Health Week, we delivered our biggest ever campaign Playing it Safe. Through events, new resources and collaborative partnerships, we evidenced the positive impact of RSE, promoted consent and pleasure as key components of safer sex and celebrated experts across the sector working tirelessly to keep people safe from harm.   

Key successes include: 

• Taking over Superdrug’s Instagram account and sharing our bold messaging with more than 1million followers
• Launching our Brook Charity TikTok, with more than 262,032 views in the first seven months 
• Publishing our revised Spotting the Signs Tool and guidance 
• Delivering our first online safeguarding conference to 920 attendees, featuring leading sector experts and securing new corporate sponsors 
• Educating more than 67,500 people on gender stereotypes through our Big RSE Lesson Live  

Watch our Instagram reel with Superdrug

Fighting stigma together

We recognise the power of collaboration, and we are proud to work with high profile influencers, brands and platforms to further our mission to fight stigma, drive conversation and challenge misconceptions. 

Brook X Ruby Rare

We’ve been working closely with our Ambassador Ruby Rare since 2020. In 23/24 we produced Ruby Rare talks asexuality with Yasmin Benoit and partnered on the coordination of a London panel event: An Inalienable Right to Be Gay: Section 28, 20 Years On. 

Brook X Max Hovey

This year, we forged a new relationship with writer and mental health advocate Max Hovey and created new content through videos and blogs on topics ranging from mental health and body image to PrEP and LGBT+ sex education.  

Brook X Hannah Witton

Brook teamed up with sex educator and YouTuber Hannah Witton to present a YouTube video about the backlash we are witnessing against RSE in schools. The video delves into sex education history and the current RSE curriculum as well as common RSE myths.  

Brook X Netflix

We were proud to partner with Netflix to promote the launch of the final series of Sex Education during September 2023. The popular series celebrates friendship and affection and emphasises communication, honesty, safety and mutual respect. These are all the ingredients of healthy relationships that Brook promotes in classrooms across England and Wales every day.  

We also worked together to destigmatise pleasure and promote self-pleasure through the brand new DIY Diaries with our favourite hosts Aimee and Jean. The collaborative video has been viewed more than 250,000 times on Instagram.  

Brook X Superdrug

2023 research by Superdrug revealed that more than one third of young people have ‘gone along with sex’ even though they didn’t want to. We joined Georgia Harrison, Fumble, UK Says No More and Switchboard LGBT as an official partner on Superdrug’s You Before Yes campaign, sharing our consent expertise and equipping young people with the knowledge to keep themselves and others safe.  

Brook X ROAM

In April 2023, sexual wellness brand ROAM launched the world’s first skin tone condom range to provide choice and representation to customers. Brook was proud to partner with ROAM on the launch. For every skin tone condom sold, Roam donated one condom to Brook to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of those who are at risk of poor health outcomes.  

Brook X Festival Republic

As part of our innovative partnership, we supported Festival Republic’s multi-agency safeguarding process as well as providing frontline health promotion at Reading, Leeds and Creamfields North festivals. We engaged with 10,000 festival goers across the three festivals, distributing free condoms and lube, fighting stigma and empowering people to enjoy themselves safely with our on-screen consent campaign.  

Brook X Lil-Lets

Now in year five of our partnership with Lil-Lets, 23/24 saw us deliver our second Big Period Lesson, reaching more than 61,300 young people and teachers on the topics of periods, puberty and bodies. Our partnership was shortlisted for the Charity Times Corporate National Partnership Champion in recognition of our first Big Period Lesson which educated more than 120,000 young people in 23/24 through live and on-demand viewings. 

Working with you has been an absolute pleasure. The impact of our collaboration has been significant for me, both personally and professionally. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such talented and dedicated people.

Sarah Hoyte, Brand Manager Lil-Lets