Standing Firm in Power and Pride: Brook Southend’s Commitment to Inclusive Public Health

This Black History Month, we’re exploring how community, culture and connection drive better health outcomes. The theme for this Black History month, Standing Firm in Power and Pride, reminds us to celebrate the resilience, leadership and unwavering progress of Black communities, and to reflect on how these values shape our collective mission for equality in healthcare. At Brook Southend, we are proud to honour this spirit through our ongoing work with the BAME community. Over the years, we have collaborated on culturally rooted, community-led initiatives that build trust, dismantle stigma and strengthen access to vital sexual health services. Here are some of those collaborations.

Barbershop Conversations and Hair Salon Outreach

We have partnered with Black-owned barbershops and hair salons to create safe, welcoming spaces where people can talk openly about sexual health and access to services. These conversations have helped challenge stigma while raising awareness of Brook’s free, confidential and non-judgemental support.

Several barbers now distribute condoms on our behalf, and one barbershop has taken the lead in campaigning for equal access to PrEP for Black communities. Their commitment is a powerful example of allyship and community advocacy in action. Through this approach, we continue to connect meaningfully with Black African and Asian men across Southend.

Muslim Community Champion

For the first time in Southend, we are proud to have a Muslim Community Champion who has played a vital role in increasing awareness and guiding us in culturally sensitive engagement. Her insight is helping us reach new audiences with understanding, respect and authenticity.

Through our Community Champions Scheme, we champion diversity in outreach by recruiting individuals from a range of cultural backgrounds and empowering them to shape our work. Over the past five years, we have collaborated with champions from the UK, South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Pakistan. This inclusive model ensures that different voices and lived experiences continue to guide our approach.

Five Years of Impact and Looking Ahead

As Brook marks five years in Southend, we are proud to look back on the progress we have made and the partnerships that have shaped our journey. Looking forward, we are launching a new project focused on migrant communities, raising awareness around HIV prevention, U=U, and access to services. Our goal is simple: to ensure that no one is left behind.

This Black History Month, Brook Southend stands firm in power and pride, committed to equity, community and culturally grounded care. Together, we move closer to the government’s goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.