This research is being conducted by The Love Tank CIC - a non-profit working to improve the health and wellbeing of underserved communities - in association with Preventx - a company that delivers free at-home/remote sexual health testing in the UK. Preventx deliver this work in partnership with the NHS via SHL in London and SH.UK outside of London.

The aim of this research is to help Preventx better understand the needs of different communities in the UK accessing sexual health services online. The findings of focus group will be shared with Preventx to help improve the service for everyone - including historically marginalised groups. Some of the findings may also be shared in presentations at public health conferences in the future.

This research will involve a series of online focus groups, taking place from October 2025 to September 2026. The discussions will focus on people's preferences for (and experiences) of accessing sexual health testing online.

There will be separate discussion groups for the following demographics/communities: 

• Women and fem sex workers 

• Trans sex workers* 

• Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who attend chillouts* 

• Migrant gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who attend chillouts* 

*This includes cisgender and transgender men and non-binary people AMAB who have sex with men 

Focus groups will take place online via Zoom on a weekday evening. They will last approximately 90 minutes. If you attend a focus group, you will receive a £50 e-voucher as a huge thank you for taking part.

You can register to take part by completing this form.

To take part in this research, you need to be aged 18 or over and living in the UK. You also need to be part of one of the demographics listed in the section above ("What will it involve?").

You do not need to have ever used an online sexual health service (like SHL or SH.UK) to take part in the discussions.

No. There will only be one focus group you can attend.

However, if you are unable to attend a focus group on a weekday evening, we may be able to accommodate for that and do one on a weekend.

Yes. The Zoom discussions will be audio recorded and transcribed anonymously (removing any identifying information in the discussions). 

If you don't want to, you do not need to use your real name at any point during the research. You can complete the registration survey using a pseudonym (or fake name), if you wish. 

The demographics included in this round of research represent a mix of communities with different sexual health needs and experiences accessing sexual health services online.

This programme of research is a multi-year collaboration between The Love Tank and Preventx. In coming years, the research programme will involve different communities and demographics. 

Once you fill out the registration survey, the research team at The Love Tank will securely store your email.

Once dates are selected, you will receive an email inviting you to a discussion group. This email will include a consent form that you will be asked to return by email. Please make sure to check your spam/junk folder in case an email arrives there.

If you select the option on the registration survey to take part in three focus group, you will likely receive separate email invitations for each of these groups. (You will only need to complete the consent form once).

So you are aware, we are taking a number of steps in order to safeguard the anonymity and wellbeing of our participants:

• All participants will be anonymised 

• Information provided in focus groups will be used only to ensure diverse representation and not linked directly to participant testimony 

• Participants do not have to use their real names 

• Participants will not be required to use a webcam or show their face during the Zoom session 

• Participants are permitted to withdraw from the study at any time without explanation 

• Participants will also be advised that they are able to reach out to the research coordinator (Phil Samba) at The Love Tank for direct referral to service providers if they feel they require additional support