Many of us will know from personal experience that the route to hepatitis C diagnosis can be long. A variety of factors create barriers to getting tested and seeking treatment. Confusion about routes of transmission leads to a lack of understanding that we have been at risk. Hepatitis C is often symptomless for decades and we simply don’t realise we may have it. A lack of awareness of hepatitis C from GPs may lead to investigations of other causes and conditions when we present with symptoms like fatigue, depression and digestive problems. People often feel stigmatised by the condition, regardless of the way they may have caught it.
An estimated 40-50% of those infected with hepatitis C in the UK are still undiagnosed, and many more know they are infected but are reluctant to come forward for treatment, often due to misconceptions about what treatment entails.
With the availability of 8–12 week tablet-based treatments and cure rates of over 95%, it is more important than ever that we find people living with hepatitis C before they suffer the serious complications of a long-term hepatitis C infection which can include cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer.
Our focus for World Hepatitis Day this year has been to support organisations around the country to raise awareness of hepatitis C in their local areas. We have provided local services with t-shirts, posters, balloons, leaflets and other materials to use for events within their services. Many Hepatitis C Trust staff and volunteers will be attending various events to offer their support and expertise.
We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to the below organisations which are holding various awareness raising events across England and Scotland. Events being held include information stands, social get-togethers, and testing events.
We have included details of specific events where we have them. If there is something in your area that you would like to find out more about, please contact the local organisation directly for additional details.
Some events may be for the general public and others are for service users only. Times and dates of events that are happening will vary.
You may also want to show your support online here and by tweeting on the hashtag #WorldHepatitisDay.
ENGLAND
Ashton Under Lyne
CGL, My Recovery Tameside, 111 – 113 Old Street, OL6 7RL
Birmingham
CGL Midlands, Scala House, 36 Holloway Circus, Queensway, B1 1EQ
Homeless Health Exchange, William Booth Lane, B4 6HA
Bournemouth
Addaction, BEAT, Unit 6, Trinity House, 161 Old Christchurch Road, BH1 1U
DACT, Bourne Avenue, BH2 6DY. Increasing testing in their services from 23rd – 27th July.
Bradford
CGL, Pelican House, 10 Currer Street, BD1 5BA
Bristol
Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin Street, BS2 8HW
Bromley
CGL
Cheltenham
CGL
Chester
Turning Point, 51 Boughton, CH3 5AF
Turning Point are also involving Student Freshers attending Chester Pride to give out information on hepatitis C
Chesterfield
Derbyshire Recovery partnership. On Wednesday (25/07/2018), there is an all-day event promoting testing with HEP C Trust Peers attending.
Corby
CGL
Cornwall
Royal Cornwall Hospital, Penventinnie Lane, TR1 3LJ
Coventry
CGL
Eastbourne
CGL STAR, Lift House, 6 St Leonards Road, East Sussex, BN21 3UH
Devon
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, 119 Pinhoe Road, EX4 7HX
Dorset
REACH Drug and Alcohol Services, 7 Downes Street, Bridport, DT6 3JR
Dudley
CGL
Dover
The Forward Trust
Gateshead
Monday 23rd July, “Love your Liver” fibro-scans offered by nurses from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, CGL Evolve, 47, Jackson Street, Gateshead. NE8 1EE.
Gloucester
CGL
Hereford
Addaction
Hull
ReNew, 43 – 45 Beverley Road, HU3 1XH
Kettering
CGL
Leamington
CGL
Leigh
Addaction
Lincolnshire
Addaction
Liverpool
Addaction, 93 Stonebridge Lane, Croxteth. L11 4SJ. Friday 27th July. All day with testing available. One of our peers, Kieron Allen, will be holding a peer education talk.
London
Hackney Recovery Service/CNWL, 102 – 110 Mare Street, E8 3SG
Turning Point – Blenheim, 209 Harrow Road, W2 5EH Info, advice DBS, love your liver smoothies
Turning Point – Blenheim, Acorn Hall, 1 East Row, W10 5AR. Info, advice, DBS, love your liver smoothies
Turning Point- Blenheim, New Coach House, 370 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LH. Info, advice, DBS, love your liver smoothies
Turning Point- Blenheim, 32a Wardour Street, W1D 6QR. Info, advice, DBS, love your liver smoothies
Wandsworth DAS, St John’s Therapy Centre, 162 St John’s Hill, SW11 1SW
St Mungos, Pagnell Street Hostel, Lewisham, SE14 6LL
Lorraine Hewitt House, Brighton Terrace, Brixton, SW9 8DG
Manchester
Our South Asian Officer, Shabana Begum held an awareness stall at the Mela.
Merseyside
CGL, Recovery Centre, Lincoln House, Corporation Street, St. Helens, WA10 1UQ. Friday 27th July. Testing will be available.
Middlesbrough
“Heppy Monday” event at CGL, The Live Well Centre, Dundas House, Dundas Arcade, Middlesborough, TS1 1HY
Morecambe
CGL, 173 Euston Road, LA4 5LQ
NewcastleFreeman Hospital, Freeman Road, NE7 7DN
Breakfast Club Hep C session, CGL, Bridge View House, 15-23 City Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE1 2AF
Wednesday 1st August – One, Two, Free Hep C Event for WHD. NTW, Plummer Court, Carliol Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE1 6UR. Testing and awareness session with Trevor, Laura and Amanda from the Freeman Hospital.
Wednesday 8th August – Clayton Street Clinic 1st birthday party/ WHD. Clayton Street N/X (CGL), 43, Clayton Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. NE1 5PN.
Northampton
CGL
Nottingham
CGL New Directions, Sherwood Street, Mansfield , NG18 1ER. Clients are able to drop in to the service during the following times to be tested using the dry blood spot testing between on the following dates:
Monday 23rd July 10am – 4pm
Tuesday 24th July 10am – 4pm
Wednesday 25th July 10am – 4pm
Thursday 26th July 1pm – 4pm
Friday 27th July 10am – 4pm
Nuneaton
CGL
Redcar
Addaction
Rugby
CGL
Sheffield
Addaction, DIP Service, 42 Sidney Street, S1 4RH – from 23rd to 27th July from 11am to 1pm. A promotional stall at reception, manned by Hepatitis C Trust Peers. Information and testing is available.
Victoria Court Housing Project, on Thursday 26th July, there is a drop in with free coffee, cakes and lunch for people to attend. Peers will be present.
Shrewsbury
Addaction
Shropshire
Addaction
Somerset
Addaction, 35 Boulevard, Weston Super Mare, BS23 1PE
Southend
Southend STARS, 25 – 27 Weston Road, SS1 1AS
Stockton on Tees
CGL Stockton, 32 – 34 William Street, TS18 1DN
BBQ, Testing and harm reduction presentation. Information stalls.Public Health Information Library, Redhill Road Children’s Centre, TS19 9BX
Stroud
CGL
Southampton
CGL
Suffolk
Turning Point, Woodberry House, Mill Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0PP
Truro
Addaction, Western House, Tabernacle Street
Wakefield
Turning Point Grosvenor House 8-20 Union Street WF1 3AE. Information morning on 21st July from 10am to 2pm
Walsall
CGL
Wigan
Addaction
Wirral
Phoenix Futures, Upton Road, Bidston, CH43 7QF
Nightingales Café, 90 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 6AG. All day event at recovery café. One of our peers, Kieron will be on hand to offer support to anyone who is tested, or referred for testing. 10:30am to 3pm
Also the following prisons:
HMP Belmarsh, Brinsford, Brixton, Downview, Dovegate, Isis, Styal, Warren Hill, Wormwood Scrubs
SCOTLAND
Ayrshire and Arran
Rivergate Shopping Centre, 5 Fullarton St, Irvine KA12 8EJ, 10am to 4pm
NHS Ayrshire and Arran is hosting a stand in the Rivergate Shopping Centre, Irvine on the 26 July from 10am to 4pm. There will be information on hepatitis, as well as freebies and quizzes, and signposting for anyone who might have put themselves at risk.
Ayr Central, Skye Square, Ayr, KA7 1TP, 10am to 4pm
NHS Ayrshire and Arran is hosting a stand in Ayr Central Shopping Centre, Ayr on the 27 July from 10am to 4pm. There will be information on hepatitis, as well as freebies and quizzes, and signposting for anyone who might have put themselves at risk.
Edinburgh
This is being organised alongside NHS Lothian nurses. DBS testing will be available. Open to all including general public. Turning Point NE Recovery Service5 Links Place, Edinburgh EH6 7EZ
July 26th 10am – 3pm
Fife
Methil Community Healthy Liver Day, Savoy Sports Centre, Byron Street, Methil, Leven, KY8 3JQ, 12pm to 3pm. Fife (Hepatitis) Voices Forum is hosting a free community healthy liver event on 31 July at Savoy Sports Centre in Methil. Come along to find out all about keeping your liver healthy, including advice on liver care, liver scans and basic health checks, healthy eating advice, testing for blood-borne viruses, information on stopping smoking and more. There will be a prize draw, tombola, face painting and hot food, tea and coffee, and ice cream – all for free!
Forth Valley
Annual Recovery Olympics at the Mayfield Centre, Sunnybank Road, St Ninians, Stirling, FK7 0BD, from 12.30pm. The BBV MCN are entering the team “The BBV Busters” at the Annual Recovery Olympics, hosted by Forth Valley Recovery Community. Information on viral hepatitis as well as networking will be happening all afternoon on this fun-filled family day out.
Lothian
Hep C Awareness Fair, Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, 30 Harvesters Way, Edinburgh EH14 3JF, 10am to 4pm. Come along to this free event, where organisations, including Waverley Care, NHS Lothian Health Promotion Services, British Liver Trust, Community Help and Advice Initiative, Change Grow Live and others will be present with information about viral hepatitis, testing, treatment and prevention. Testing will also be available for anyone who would like to know their status. Click here for more information.