The objective of the project is to empower people aged over 45 to participate in sexual health services & improve their sexual health & wellbeing, with an additional and specifically adapted focus on socio-economically disadvantaged groups across the 2Seas area. The empowerment will avoid assumption by using insight gathering & testing existing evidence. In co-creating a service redesign, the healthcare systems currently in place will be adapted to provide services that are properly suited to these groups. Consequently, SHIFT will improve awareness in the target groups and access to sexual health services, therefore increasing wellbeing, testing for STIs and HIV & avoidance of undiagnosed communicable STIs & HIV amongst the over 45s and socio-economically disadvantaged groups. This will lead to improving the quality of life of people aged over 45 (with specific focus on vulnerable groups) & a decrease in health inequalities.

• A co-created & piloted model for future service provision to improve sexual health amongst the target groups, including techniques for engaging with hard-to-reach groups. A first model will be designed for people aged over 45. SHIFT will use a confidential web-based process to self-assess/be advised on next steps, but co-creation will ensure those less at ease with technology are fully engaged with the model. Using PPs 4&8 expertise, and by identifying organisations who work directly with socio-economically disadvantaged groups, the model will be adapted to reach these groups. Mobile units will access homeless people and others who do not/cannot access local public health services. Services will be multilingual and culturally/subject sensitive to reach groups such as migrants and sex workers.
• A jointly produced & piloted training programme relevant to all parts of the 2Seas area, based on extensive engagement with healthcare professionals, implemented via existing services.

Policies across the 2Seas area focus on continued, successful awareness-raising amongst young people but very few services are aimed at over 45s taking their needs into account. Articles/ policy in all 4 countries show a lack of attention to older adults & the problems they face. The whole 2Seas area has high rates of immigration, & homelessness is present everywhere, particularly amongst migrant communities. As individual countries have failed to get to grips with this issue, shared practice will be the most effective way to tackle it. Partners will bring together their wide range of knowledge, experience & skills to address this, as each country’s partners have specific expertise without which SHIFT cannot achieve its results. SHIFT will revolve around co-creation/development, with intense cross-border co-operation at every stage, ensuring the drive and joint working necessary to deliver the new model for addressing sexual health with our target groups.