Latest News

This World AIDS Day, we want to remember how far treatment has come for people living with HIV, and look ahead to the work still to be done to end new HIV transmission by 2030.

PrEP is a pill you can take to stop you from contacting HIV. It's free to access from the NHS, regardless of your immigration status. And it's safe to take alongside hormonal contraception (like the...

We're excited to share this video, co-produced with local women, exploring the benefits of PrEP and how it can be accessed.

It's that time of year again! National HIV Testing Week is back from Monday 5th February, and organisations are calling on people across the country to get tested and spread the word.

By Rotherham volunteer Eve Findlay

Everyone deserves the ability to access to accurate, engaging sexual health information. This PrEP Awareness Week, Yorkshire MESMAC is excited to announce the launch of a new project providing basic PrEP information in a range...

Leeds City Council, BHA and MESMAC are working in partnership to oversee a Fast Track Cities community grants programme of around £18,000. This will be used to award micro grants to community groups with or at r...

This latest blog post comes from Rotherham volunteer Eve. She's been exploring the intersection between RSE and politics...

It’s important that everyone served by our NHS is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve and their individual needs are personally assessed and met appropriately in line with clinical need with services de...

We're starting a new blog spearheaded by Rotherham volunteer Bee! Check out this introductory post for more info about the future of the blog, Bee and what we've been up to in Rotherham and across...

It's Mental Health Awareness Week - and what better time to say hello to our new mental health peer support worker Afrika! They're working as part of the Community Mental Health Transformation Project operating across...

We are looking to expand our pool of counsellors operating out of Leeds and remotely. Are you a counsellor... in private practice or self-employedregistered with an appropriate professional body (eg BACP)with your own professional...

We have worked with local Trans+ folk to co- produce a new video aimed at healthcare professionals to help improve Trans+ healthcare and the care experience. In the video, people share their real life experiences...

A new city-wide sexual health improvement service has launched, uniting HIV prevention and sexual health promotion services for the most at risk groups across Leeds. The new service, commissioned by Leeds City Council, will expand...

National HIV Testing Week is back! From Monday 7 February, organisations across the country are calling on people across the country to ‘give HIV the finger’!

We are very pleased to announce we will be working in partnership with Leeds Knights for EIHA Pride Week from 7th to 16th January 2022.

We are so excited to announce that the first ever Yorkshire HIV Testing Week will take place 22nd-27th November 2021!

After over 25 years of service delivery, working alongside communities across the district. Yorkshire MESMAC will be closing its Wakefield service on 30th September 2021.

This is your chance to help shape sexual health services in North Yorkshire!

Yorkshire MESMAC has signed an open letter asking UK MPs to stand up against continuing attempts to introduce Nordic model legislation (criminalising the purchase of sex) into Parliament.

This brief invites proposals from consultants interested in playing a part in an exciting, transformational project in Leeds, working with award-winning third sector partners and senior health and social care leaders. We are one of...

So many of us are finding we have a little extra time on our hands at the moment.  And given that it’s the third lockdown in the space of 12 months, I don’t know...

Remember that you can leave your home if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

2020 has seen a lot of changes to the way that we work! If you've used our services over the past year, we'd really love to hear your thoughts!

A message from our CEO: "As an organisation that has helped establish, and supports, many LGBT+ Prides across Yorkshire, MESMAC are saddened and by the proposed, unfair, unworkable and potentially unlawful ban on staff...

​LGBTQ+ organisations and groups across the UK will soon be able to apply for grants of up to £15,000 to support their vital role in supporting LGBTQ+ communities through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

On the 22nd April Liz Truss, the Minister for Women and Equalities set out her priorities in this role. Of the three priorities, her words on the Gender Recognition Act were of particular concern to...

BHIVA has received enquiries about the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, in people with HIV.

It has been brought to our attention that there have been several incidents across numerous cruising sites around Yorkshire, involving men using the sites. We are aware that some of these incidents have been reported...

Join us in asking local candidates to pledge their support for action on HIV and sexual health. The general election is a crucial opportunity to raise the profile of HIV and the need to address...

People of all genders and sexualities are welcome to attend our free drop in session in Wakefield on the last Friday of each month 1pm-3pm.  Drop in for a bite to eat and...

PrEPster, iwantprepnow and PHE have just launched the third annual survey for UK people who have used PrEP in the last 24 months.

Three workshops will introduce key topics for discussion along with techniques and strategies to help us build and reinforce our emotional resilience.  They will be led by Christine Blessing, Counselling co-ordinator, at Yorkshire MESMAC....

Yorkshire MESMAC is proud to announce the commencement of Hull’s remodelled Sexual Health Promotion Service. This service is open to all with specific targeted work aimed at young people, BAME people, gay, bi and ot...

All friendly over 18s are welcome to attend any of the mental health workshops running at our Wakefield office this spring.  There is always free food and drinks provided at these informal events. ...

It was with great sadness that we heard last week that our colleague and friend, Mags Portman, died from a rare cancer aged 44.   Dr Portman was a trail blazer in HIV prevention and we...

Our weekly testing session at Base has been cancelled this week due to staff shortage. We will be back as usual next Wednesday. If you need a test in the meantime, you can come to...

See below for our office closure times over the festive season. All HIV/STI testing drop-in sessions will not be during these times.

‘Think’ is Yorkshire MESMAC’s friendly workshop group in Wakefield.  We meet twice a month usually on a Tuesday evening between 6.30pm and 9pm. We cover topics of interest around health and wellbeing. There is alw...

This year, the 1st December marks 30 years of World AIDS Day, and true to form, Yorkshire MESMAC has been busy in the lead up to this, both with delivering over 300 tests for National HIV Testing...

National HIV Testing Week runs 17th-23rd November 2018. We will be testing in Leeds, York, North Yorkshire, Bradford, Wakefield, Hull and Rotherham.

A 10,000 place PrEP trial was never going to meet demand – it’s time to make PrEP available to all who need it.

The article in The Sunday Times (04.03.18)  is a disgraceful example of gutter ‘journalism’, even from  a cursory reading of the article it is clear that it is based on half-truths, rumour and innuendo. The...

The article in The Sunday Times (04.03.18)  is a disgraceful example of gutter ‘journalism’, even from  a cursory reading of the article it is clear that it is based on half-truths, rumour and innuendo. The...

Due to the snow, the following offices are closed today, Thursday 1st March:  - Leeds -Wakefield -Bradford - York and North Yorkshire (Harrogate, Selby, Scarborough and Northallerton services will not be running) Please keep...

Due to the snow, the following offices are closed today, Wednesday 28th February:  - Leeds- York and North Yorkshire (Harrogate, Selby, Scarborough and Northallerton services will not be running)-Wakefield Please keep an eye...

Along with 140+ other organisations, we have signed to the Prime Minister Theresa May and to the heads of all political parties in the UK, urging them to protect our fundamental human rights, both now and...

Check out the video from the Human Red Ribbon event for World AIDS Day 2017 in Hull

See the poster below for details of the 2017 World AIDS Day event in Rotherham.

It's National HIV Testing Week! We will be testing in Leeds, York, North Yorkshire, Bradford, Wakefield, Hull and Rotherham.

Let's End It. End isolation. End stigma. End HIV transmission. This World AIDS Day join the fight to end the negative impact of HIV.

EMIS is the world's largest survey of gay men, bisexual men and other men (including trans men) who are attracted to men.

We understand that, viewed out of context of Yorkshire MESMAC’s suite of policies including safeguarding of children and safeguarding adults at risk, there is a possibility that this code of conduct could be misunderstood.Yo...

The Bradford Playhouse will be showing a production of RENT between 8th-11th November 7:30pm. Here's some more information about the background of the show.

If you are going to Gran Canaria Winter Pride, you should get a Hepatitis A vaccination.MESMAC Leeds are running a free Hep A vaccination session alongside our usual Testing Times + on Tuesday 24/10/17.It...

​Living with and managing HIV can be challenging for many people. Whether it’s coming to terms with a new diagnosis, starting or changing treatment, managing relationships or talking about HIV. Peer support has been prov...

​NHS England has yesterday (Thursday 3 August) announced the start of a pioneering implementation trial to provide HIV prevention drugs to people at high risk of HIV infection.

Hepatitis B and C are infections that affect the liver. They can be passed on through sharing drug taking equipment or unprotected sex. Here's everything you need to know about the causes, symptoms, treatments and...

A new study from UCL, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Public Health England seeks to discover whether providing free HIV self-tests to men, transgender men and transgender women who have sex with men...

Snapchat have added a super creepy new feature called Snap Map. It means that, depending on your settings, any of your Snapchat friends could see exactly where you are. Here's are guide to staying safe.

Campaigners have expressed they are ‘seriously concerned’ about delays to the long-awaited PrEP trial in England.

We’re calling on the next government to stand with people affected by HIV.

Our Testing Times+ drop-in tonight in Leeds has been cancelled due to a maintenance issue with water and toilets. Our drop in on Thursday will go ahead as usual! Apologies for any inconvenience caused.&...

Starting from the 3rd April, Yorkshire MESMAC is offering a new sexual health community outreach service in Rotherham in partnership with the Integrated Sexual Heath Service.

Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Health Week will run from 13th March- 17th March 2017. It has been organised by the National LGB&T partnership.

Read on for some new workshops that we'll be running.

Syphilis is on the increase across Yorkshire so it's important that you get clued up. Here's everything you need to know about the causes, symptoms, treatments and getting tested.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea are Sexually Transmitted Infections you can get in your cock, throat, vagina or bum.  At Yorkshire MESMAC in Wakefield we can now screen you confidentially for both infections in all areas...

Are you interested in housing and the needs of older people in Leeds? Would you like the opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas with other older people and housing providers? Take a look at...

Our Hull team have produced a video giving the personal experiences of a woman who has undergone Female Genital Mutilation.

Today is York Pride and we are launching a new postal STI testing kit for those of you living in York and North Yorkshire!

Yorkshire MESMAC volunteers, trustees and staff are horrified, saddened and angered at the murder and injury in Orlando. Tom Doyle, Yorkshire MESMAC Chief Executive said, ‘Our thoughts at this time are with those whose hearts ar...

Leeds which has Yorkshire’s largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGB&T) community will join together from 10:30pm for speeches, words and tribute leading to a minutes silence at 11pm on Monday 13th June on...

Over 21 million people volunteer in the UK at least once a year and this contributes an estimated £23.9bn to the UK economy. Behind these big numbers is a big contribution.

The National LGB&T Partnership has today published Out Loud: LGBT Voices in Health and Social Care, a narrative account of LGBT needs.

PrEP is an highly effective and safe medication that has been proven to prevent HIV transmission if you take it daily. As yet there's no news about when PrEP will be available on the NHS....

Are you a man who has sex with other men, HIV+ or do you visit London regularly? There has been an outbreak of the little known infection Shigella in London, and it can be caught...

In England in 2013, 59 per 1,000 MSM aged between 15-59 years old were estimated to have HIV. 16% of MSM were undiagnosed.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a course of HIV drugs taken before sex to reduce the risk of getting HIV.

Another year, another calendar, but as usual, the Yorkshire Bears are taking the art of calendar making and doing it in style!

To complement our drop-in, click and collect and appoint based HIV testing service, there is now a free HIV online home sampling service.

Getting a HIV test in Leeds has never been easier. You can now order your testing kit and collect it from Yorkshire MESMAC Leeds offices at a time that best suits you.

On Wednesday 1 July 2015 Leeds Sexual Health was launched. This is a new 'integrated' Sexual Health Service designed to offer people contraception, HIV testing and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment.

​City of Sanctuary Wakefield are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join their dynamic Women’s group that provide weekly support sessions and activities for women and children in Urban House.