The objective of the project was 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 2 Seas area. 
The project avoided making incorrect assumptions by using insight gathering & testing existing evidence. In co-creating a service redesign, the healthcare systems were adapted to provide services that were properly suited to these groups. 
Consequently, SHIFT sought to 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 was aimed at improving the quality of life of people aged over 45 (with specific focus on vulnerable groups) & leading to a decrease in health inequalities.

The main outputs were:
● 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 was designed for people aged over 45. SHIFT used confidential, web-based process to self-assess and be advised on next steps, but co-creation ensured those less at ease with technology were fully engaged with the model. 
● Using partners’ expertise and by identifying organisations who work directly with socio-economically disadvantaged groups, the model was adapted to reach these groups via a  tailored sexual health & wellbeing strategy A jointly produced & piloted training programme relevant to all parts of the 2 Seas area was created based on extensive engagement with healthcare professionals and implemented via existing services. 

Check the “Outputs” section below to download related material and see “Main Achievements” section for further information about the achieved results.

Policies across the 2 Seas area focus on continued, successful awareness-raising amongst young people, but very few services are aimed at over-45s. Articles & policy in all 4 countries showed a lack of attention to older adults and the problems they face. The whole 2 Seas area has high rates of immigration and homelessness is present everywhere, particularly amongst migrant communities. 
As individual countries have previously failed to get to grips with this issue, shared practice was the most effective way to tackle it. Partners brought together their wide range of knowledge, experience & skills to address this, as each country’s partners have specific expertise without which SHIFT could not achieve its results. 
SHIFT revolved around co-creation and 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 the target groups. 
Thanks to the cross-border partnership, better knowledge and expertise sharing was achieved. The most enriching aspect of the cross-border cooperation was also one of the biggest challenges, through looking at provision of healthcare and education in one's own country and comparing it to others. This highlighted both strengths and weaknesses in one's own country, bringing forward insights that would have been difficult to achieve without the cross-border cooperation. The development of a broad and well-rounded training programme was supported through the contributions of all the partner countries.