Increasing access for those who face barriers

Improving access for neurodivergent young people

In the last year, Brook has invested in upskilling our workforce to better respond to the access needs of neurodivergent young people. Specialist training has been delivered and frontline staff have completed the mandatory Oliver McGowan training on Autism and Learning Disabilities. 

As part of our commitment to accessible education, Brook conducted an audit of education resources.  With support from the National Autistic Society’s Boshier grant, we co-produced a new suite of accessible Healthy Relationships resources with neurodivergent young people. 

Brook’s clinical premises were audited by our Neurodivergent Participation Group who made recommendations to better improve access for those with noise and sensory sensitivity which can make everyday situations overwhelming, and we are currently implementing their recommendations. 

We are also working with the group to develop new web content on mental health for those who are neurodivergent. 

Championing HIV prevention in local communities

As part of the national commitment to the eradication of new HIV transmissions by 2030, Brook delivers several local and national HIV prevention initiatives.

Our well-established and recognised digital Take Charge campaign promotes PrEP, condom use and HIV testing and, in 24/25, reached over 230,900 people.

In Buckinghamshire, Southend-on-Sea and the London Borough of Barnet, we deliver HIV prevention programmes to fight stigma, normalise testing and reduce late HIV diagnosis. From April 2025, we will be expanding this work to Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, working in partnership with Brigstowe and Common Ambition Bristol. 

In Buckinghamshire, Southend-on-Sea and the London Boroughs of Barnet, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, we deliver HIV prevention programmes aimed at fighting stigma, normalising testing and reducing late HIV diagnosis. Through a combination of community-based outreach and digital health promotion campaigns we reached more than 123,000 people in 23/24.  

Tackling sexual violence and abuse

Through our sexual violence programme, funded by NHS England, we worked with our partner Let Me Know to deliver education sessions to 8,658 young people across seven London boroughs. We upskilled more than 429 professionals with our training on managing a disclosure of sexual assault, pornography and responding to incidents of sexual harassment. Our sessions support educational settings and community groups to embed a whole-school approach to addressing sexual violence and abuse.

To help tackle harassment on university campuses, Brook launched a new Bystander Intervention course for students. The new e-learning course is designed to empower students and staff with practical strategies to safely intervene in harmful situations and combat harassment and sexual misconduct. It sits alongside our existing Consent course, supporting universities to comply with new legislation on consent training.