Spectra London

01/06/2026

🌈Happy Pride month!

“We are gay and we are proud and we are going to enjoy ourselves.”

This statement was printed on the programme for Britain’s first Pride protest, which took place in London on 1 July 1972.

Every June, we remember our siblings who fought for the rights we have today and we honour them by continuing their fight all year round. Pride month is observed internationally in June, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and promoting equal rights.

💣It began after a series of protests that took place in Stonewall, New York in 1969, led by gay and trans folks against harsh police raids.

Spectra is led by and serves q***r people in wider London and envisions a future without discrimination or obstacles to accessing education, healthcare or social welfare services.

🔗For more information on our services and how we work for and with q***r communities, visit: specta-london.org.uk

***r

31/05/2026

Our June outreach s*xual health sessions are here!

Join us across London this month for free, confidential s*xual health support, including:

✅ HIV & STI testing
✅ Free condoms & l**e
✅ Answering all your s*xual health and wellbeing related questions!

Our outreach spaces are safe, welcoming, and open to everyone 🌈

📍 Check dates & locations and come say hi.

P.s. it will probably hot 🥵for most of June, please stay hydrated and cool 🪭

https://spectra-london.org.uk/events/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=socials&utm_campaign=june_outreach

29/05/2026

Spectra offers mindfulness sessions, both online and in person, to everyone that would like to take a step back from the rhythms of everyday life and ground themselves. *

Mindfulness draws on the wisdom of thousands of years of meditative tradition and combines this with contemporary approaches from psychology and neuroscience to help you to foster a non-judgemental, compassionate relationship with yourself and others.

A qualified and experienced teacher will offer guidance and support to enable you to begin, or to develop, your mindfulness journey at two regular free monthly drop ins online, and face to face.

Book your sessions below:

https://spectra-london.org.uk/spectra_services/mindfulness/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=socials&utm_campaign=mindfulness

* These sessions are specifically for LGBTQIA+ folks!🌈

28/05/2026

We’re proud to have contributed to the latest UK Health Security Agency survey tracking England’s progress towards ending HIV transmissions by 2030.

The findings show real progress:
✔️ Fewer HIV diagnoses
✔️ Record numbers accessing PrEP (111,123 in 2024)
✔️ Over 1.3 million people tested in s*xual health services

At Spectra, we’re committed to making HIV testing, prevention and support accessible to all, and helping drive this progress forward.

https://spectra-london.org.uk/working-towards-ending-hiv-transmissions-in-england-by-2030/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socials&utm_campaign=ukhsa_survey_hiv_plan

Spectra contributes to UKHSA survey showing England’s progress in reducing HIV transmissions, highlighting rising PrEP use, expanded testing, and frontline prevention services.

26/05/2026

Wednesday Wiggles is a dance therapy group for SWers, using movement and imagination as a way to explore emotions, connect with each other, and to connect with our own bodies. Using a sense of play, imagery and creative movement, the group can help people to explore themes of identity and community, and to develop a more positive relationship with their own bodies.

Spectra's counselling service is here to support people who may be struggling with their mental health and wellbeing. In counselling with The ALEX Project, our SWers-focused service, you work with a trained therapist with lived experience to explore your emotions and feelings in a private and confidential space.

Want to find out more about our ALEX Project services? Check out what we offer below:

https://spectra-london.org.uk/services/?tags=Sex+workers&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=socials&utm_campaign=alex_services

*These pictures show some of the props and images used and created by participants as they explored these themes.

22/05/2026

The long-awaited Equality and Human Rights Commission Practice code for the Equality Act 2010 for Service, Public Functions and Associations is now out.

Spectra is aware of early reports in the UK media and acknowledge, people will interpret the code in different ways. Our early take is that this code does not balance the needs of our diverse communities to access single s*x spaces, and let’s trans people down. We are in conversations with lawyers and other organisations to better understand how this will impact our communities, how the guidance might be interpreted and what we can do about it collectively.

And to all our trans and non-binary service users, staff, volunteers, and wider stakeholders, take care of yourselves today and over the weekend. It’s tempting to endlessly scroll on social media, but we do better for ourselves when we can reach out and talk to a friend, a support group, or helpline. Think about doing something nice for yourself this weekend if you can, and remember, trans joy is real.

Do reach out for any questions or concerns.

* if you are in urgent need, call , the national LGBT helpline.

This isn’t the end, we can still fight this and we can do so together.

We will provide a more detailed response to the code as soon as we can.

With love and solidarity,
Spectra

20/05/2026

Do you work for a charity, not-for profit or the public health sector? Are you looking for training to support you in your role?

At Spectra we offer training for practitioners and organisations working in health, care and community settings. This includes:

- Published training courses, including s*xual health training
- Bespoke and commissioned training tailored to local need
- Learning for frontline staff, multidisciplinary teams and leaders
- RSHE training and delivery in schools, including:
--> Student workshops
--> Staff training
--> Parent and carer sessions

Reach out via email on [email protected] to find out more.

15/05/2026

📢Our Simon Dennis Awards close to applications in 2 weeks

🪙Grants of up to £2,500 are available to grassroots groups led by-and-for the communities they support

Applications are encouraged from....

🫂 grassroots and community groups
♥️ projects led by marginalised communities, including LGBTQ+, particularly trans and non-binary groups, Black and racialised groups, refugees and asylum seekers, people with disabilities, people living with HIV, and those from s*x worker backgrounds.

We are particularly keen to hear from groups that support people with intersectional marginalised characteristics.

🕘Deadline: 01 June 9am

Further info and the application form link are on the Spectra site, under 'grants'
https://f.mtr.cool/kqshxtsvxw

11/05/2026

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and we are here to remind you that…
➡️ There is always an end to the issues concerning you

➡️ There is always someone who cares about you

➡️ Life is a cycle and good things will come again

➡️ If you are feeling anxious or alone, reach out

Spectra is here for your s*xual health and well-being concerns - however, if you are in crisis, please reach out to the below:

for LGBTQIA+ support

for young LGBTQIA+ support line

for anyone in crisis anytime

an LGBTQIA+ mental health support service

for LGBTQIA+ people experiencing abuse or violence

08/05/2026

It’s Trans History Week!

Trans History Week was established as a week-long anniversary to commemorate the day in 1933 when the N***s raid the Institute for Sexual Science in Berlin, the world’s first trans clinic. It’s an opportunity to highlight the millennia-old histories of trans and non-binary people, histories often intentionally hidden from the mainstream lens.

Spectra is a trans-led organisation, providing many trans-specific services, such as counselling, social groups, advocacy and more.