Wednesday, 18th December 2019
The Trade office will be open during the festive period with reduced opening hours, so you can still have access to some of the services that we have to offer, including access to free safer sex packs as well as information, advice and guidance on looking after your sexual health, both in-person and over the phone.
Our opening times will be as follows:
- Monday 23 December: 9:30am-6:00pm
- Tuesday 24 December: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Wednesday 25 December: CLOSED
- Thursday 26 December: CLOSED
- Friday 27 December: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Monday 30 December: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Tuesday 31 December: 10:00am-4:00p
- Wednesday 1 January: CLOSED
- Thursday 2 January: Usual opening times
In addition to the holiday opening hours, there will be no sauna clinics, CLINIC xtra or counselling sessions operating between Monday 23 December 2019 and Wednesday 1 January 2020.
- The first CLINIC xtra will be on Friday 10th January 2020 between 12:00-2:00pm (last screening at 1:40pm)
- The first sauna clinics will be on Tuesday 7th January 2020 between 2:00-5:00pm (last screening at 4:40pm) at Splash and Thursday 9th January 2020 between 2:00-5:00pm (last screening at 4:40pm) at Amigos.
- Counselling sessions will commence from Thursday 2nd January 2020.
Our Kwik Prick rapid HIV testing Monday drop-in service will still be running during the holiday opening hours. However, on Monday 30th December, the drop-in times for this service will be 12:00-4:00pm.
When we are back open and you want some short-term or long-term support in the local area, such as one-to-one support or counselling, you can get in contact with us.
Leicester Sexual Health
Haymarket Health and Loughborough Health Centre have the following opening times during Christmas and New Year:
- Tuesday 24 December: 8:30am - 4:00pm (Haymarket Health)
- Wednesday 25 December: CLOSED
- Thursday 26 December: CLOSED
- Friday 27 December: 8:30am-4:00pm (Haymarket Health), 10:00am-6:00pm (Loughborough)
- Saturday 28 December: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Monday 30 December: 8:30am-7:00pm
- Tuesday 31 December: 8:30am - 4:00pm (Haymarket Health)
- Wednesday 1 January: CLOSED
- Thursday 2 January: Usual opening times
If you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours (3 days), you should consider PEP, which stands for Post Exposure Prophylaxis. If you need to access PEP outside of their opening times, you can access this from the Leicester Royal Infirmary adult A&E department.
For further information, visit the Leicester Sexual Health website.
Emotional support
If you need someone to talk to over the festive period, you can access the following services:
Switchboard LGBT+ helpline
The London-based LGBT+ helpline is open every day from 10am-10pm, including over the Christmas and New Year period, to provide you with support, information and also offer a referral service lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* people - and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity. They are confidential, welcoming, supportive and non-judgemental, and although they are based in London, they can provide you with support regardless of where you live.
You can call them on 0300 330 0630 (calls to this number will cost you the same as calls to 01 and 02 numbers and are included in any call allowances you may have either on a mobile or a landline). Alternatively, you can visit their website.
Samaritans
As stated on their website, you can talk to Samaritans "anytime you like, in your own way, and off the record - about whatever's getting to you. You don't just have to be suicidal." Although they are not LGBT-specific, they are trained up to listen to you and for you to talk about your thoughts and feelings, to help you see things more clearly and think more clearly about your options.
They are open 24 hours a day, every day throughout the year, including over the Christmas and New Year period.
You can call Samaritans for free on 116 123.
Childline
Childline is a free, private and confidential service for children and young people aged up to 19, where you can be you. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, however you want to get in touch. They are there for you online, on the phone, anytime. They are open 24 hours a day, everyday.
You can call Childline for free on 0800 1111 or visit their website for an online chat.
