Increasing HIV testing locally is a Bristol Fast-Track City goal, supported by our Sexual Health Improvement Health Integration Team (SHIP HIT).
As people can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms, testing is the only way to know your HIV status. Finding out means you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing the virus onto anyone else.
Local testing and outreach events
During national HIV Testing Week (5-10 February 2024), SHIP HIT partner Terence Higgins Trust (THT) is co-ordinating drop-in sexual health testing services and outreach events at venues across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Bristol
East Trees Health Centre, Bristol, BS5 6SA
Mon 5 Feb, 9.30am – 3.30pm
UWE Bristol Bower Ashton Campus, Kennel Lodge Road Bristol BS3 2JT
Tue 6 Feb, 9.30am – 3.30pm. THT will be offering students sexual health information, STI testing and C-Card access
Unity Central Health Clinic, Tower Hill, Bristol BS2 0JD, UK
Wed 7 Feb, 11am-1pm
Easton Community Centre, Kilburn St, Bristol, BS5 6AW
Sat 10 Feb, 12-3.30pm. Drop-in sexual health advice clinic for LGBTQ+ and Trans community, offering chlamydia & gonorrhoea testing, information and advice, and free condoms
North Somerset
For all Healthy Living Centre, 68 Lonsdale Avenue, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset BS23 3SJ
Sat 3 Feb, 2.30-5pm
Somewhere to go, St. John’s Church Hall, 4a Boulevard, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1NA
Thurs 8 Feb, 12-3pm
Proud bar, 20 – 22 Boulevard, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1NA
Thurs 8 Feb, 4-7pm
North Somerset LGBT+ Forum, 68 Meadow Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1QN
Thurs 15 Feb, 12-4pm
South Gloucestershire
Ridgewood Community Centre, 244 Station Road, Yate, Bristol BS37 4AF
Wed 7 Feb, 10am-1pm
The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, BS34 5DG
Wed 7 Feb. Information stand
Access HIV testing all year round
There are many ways to get a HIV test:
Drop in testing in Bristol
Unity Sexual Health offers free and confidential NHS testing 6 days a week at the Central Clinic at Tower Hill BS2 0UA. Call to arrange an appointment on 0117 3426900. For other sexual health services visit the Unity Sexual Health website.
Common Ambition Bristol (CAB) offers two monthly free and confidential drop-in testing services for people from African and Caribbean heritage communities:
- CAB @ Charlotte Keel is on the last Thursday of every month 1.30pm-5pm at Charlotte Keel Health Centre, Seymour Road, Bristol, BS5 0UA.
- CAB @ Montpelier Health Centre is on the First Thursday of every month 1:30pm – 6:00pm at Montpelier Health Centre, Bath Buildings, Bristol, BS6 5PT
You can test for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and hepatitis. You can also get free PrEP as well as free condoms and HIV oral self-test kits.
Self testing kits
If you would like to get tested, and do not have any symptoms, you can request a free Unity NHS postal test kit for STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV). The kit will be sent to you in a blank envelope.
Free HIV oral self-tests kits and self-sampling kits for other STIs (syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia) are also available from Unity vending machines across the city.
