HPV Awareness Programme (2025)

Delivered by Communities First Foundation Funded by RM Partners (part of the NHS)

Project Status: Completed (April 2025)

Delivery Period: March – April 2025 Final Session Delivered: 13 April 2025

Overview

The HPV Awareness Programme supported the delivery of a community-based initiative aimed at increasing awareness of the benefits of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer and other cancers associated with high-risk HPV.

This programme formed part of a wider cancer prevention approach to increase HPV vaccine uptake among eligible groups, including school-age children (Years 8 and 9), girls and women up to age 25, and boys born after 1 September 2006.

HPV Vaccine Information Service at Selhurst Community Café

We delivered an HPV vaccine information service across three key community initiatives:

Selhurst Community Café
BTEC Sports Education Programme
Community Academy

These initiatives provided a safe, welcoming environment where local residents could access support, guidance, and essential health information.

Based in Selhurst, Croydon—an area ranked within the bottom 27% of the UK’s most deprived regions—the programme focused on supporting disadvantaged communities with improved access to accurate and trusted health information.

What We Delivered

The programme delivered a range of accessible and engaging activities, including:

HPV awareness and cancer prevention education
Information on vaccine eligibility and access
Signposting to NHS services and local support
Interactive sessions designed to increase understanding and confidence

Key Features of the Programme

Welcoming Environment The café provided free tea and coffee, creating a relaxed and inclusive space where community members could connect and engage in open conversations.

Access to NHS Services Participants were guided towards relevant NHS services, ensuring they had access to accurate information and appropriate support.

Structured Information Sessions We delivered a series of interactive discussion sessions across March and April 2025, culminating in a final session on 13 April 2025.

Addressing Questions and Concerns Sessions created a safe space for individuals to ask questions, raise concerns, and receive clear, evidence-based responses.

Interactive Escape Room Experience We delivered an engaging escape room-style activity, allowing participants to work through challenges that reinforced key messages about HPV, vaccination, and prevention in an interactive and memorable way.

Encouraging Vaccine Uptake Through all activities, we worked to dispel myths, reduce fear, and encourage eligible individuals to access the HPV vaccine as a preventative measure.

Who We Supported

The programme supported local residents, particularly those who faced barriers to accessing health information, including:

Young people and families
Individuals from disadvantaged communities
Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities
Individuals with limited access to healthcare information

Why This Programme Mattered

Many individuals lacked access to clear, trusted information about the HPV vaccine, which contributed to lower uptake and increased risk of preventable cancers.

This programme helped address those challenges by providing accessible, culturally relevant information within trusted community settings.

Impact

Through this programme, we: