Canal Street Online Manchester

ChemSex Project launched

ChemSex Project launched

For many years, the two organisations have worked hard to deliver services and promote awareness of the health and wellbeing of individuals who can and do access their respective services across Greater Manchester and beyond.

Following a number of high profile cases in the UK, especially here in Greater Manchester following the conviction of ReynhardSinagain Jan 2020, the two organisations entered into a discussion to share their understanding of the intersection of drug use in sex, harm reduction, risk taking behaviour, HIV and the issue of consent under the influence, and agreed that they could both better understand more and so the project was born.

With Survivors Manchester as the leading male sexual abuse service and George House Trust as the leading HIV organisation in the North West, both organisations want to ensure that the services they deliver are fully accessible to people involved in the use of chems in sex, including how to help individuals understand that if things go wrong, we’re here for support.

The project will be split into two parts with the first part focusing on listening to the voices of individuals, groups and communities; and the second part using that obtained knowledge to share harm reduction, advice and information to professionals, communities and the wider world.

As both organisations have always put individuals at the front and centre of their work, they have designed a new way of ‘listening’ with a number of sessions both online and offline which will be hosted by Artist, Cultural Icon, Drag Daddy and Anthropologist, Dr Cheddar Gorgeous.

Once signed up by contacting support@survivorsmanchester.org.uk, ‘Listening Session’ participants will be given password access to Cheddar’s virtual study, where they can anonymously sit and chew the fat on all things CHEMS, SEX AND CONSENT, sharing experiences, personal perspective and opinions, and answering pre-prepared questions by Dr Gorgeous himself.

The sessions will be conducted through Survivors Manchester’s Zoom on the following dates:

23rd November @7.30pm – 8.30pm

25th November @ 2.00pm – 3.00pm

All participants will have the option to remain anonymous and all information shared will be managed and stored securely. Everyone engaged with the project will have the opportunity to agree how their data can be used.

CEO of Survivors Manchester, Duncan Craig OBE, said:

“I’m really excited to be delivering this project with our friends at George House Trust who I know have a great understanding of the sex and chems subject. Having spent a number of years working on the Sinaga investigation here in Greater Manchester; being part of discussions at the time on the Stephen Port case; and leading an organisation whose primary focus is on sexual violation which has supported a number of people whose experience with sex and chems has been abusive, it feels important that we bring the discussion into the open and learn how to better serve those who need us”.

George House Trust Chief Executive, Darren Knight, said:

“This project is a really exciting opportunity to challenge our thinking and meaningfully engage a group of men that often struggle to engage with our services because of what’s going on in their lives. I feel that what’s created as a result of this work will not only have a benefit on what we do at George House Trust and Survivors Manchester, but also partner agencies across Greater Manchester and beyond. The key thing for me is that if we’re going to achieve zero new transmissions of HIV by 2030, we need to engage in creative and innovative ways like this”.

A separate ‘in person’ listening event will take place in the heart of the village in early Dec but to participate in one of the online events, please email Survivors Manchester on support@survivorsmanchester.org.uk or contact Duncan / Alex on 0161 236 2182.

Read More

Published: 18-Nov-2021: (6455)

Canal-st.co.uk Top Stories

LGBT Walking tours of Manchester

LGBT Walking tours of Manchester

Explore Manchester’s world-famous Gay Village with Josh’s LGBT+ Manchester Walking Tour!

Feedback from the Village Action Forum

Feedback from the Village Action Forum

Members of various stakeholder parties met again recently and here is what resulted moving forward

Pride events and dates for 2024

Pride events and dates for 2024

Save The Date: Greater Manchester Pride Events for 2024

All Wmn 24 launched

All Wmn 24 launched

We share the news of a new community event bringing Women together through live music