Race, Religion and Culture

How can SASH support you?

Race, religion and culture can significantly shape a person's approach to sexual health due to the values, beliefs and norms that each of these identities carry. The SASH staff represent multiple diverse heritages that reflect the communities we work with, and the support we offer is tailored to you and your needs so you can feel confident and informed in your sexual health.

How can race, religion or culture impact attitudes towards sexual health?

The impact is wide-ranging, and can vary in both positive and negative reactions. Some of the topics that may encounter this include:

• Expectations from family
• Expectations around sex outside of marriage 
• Subverting traditions and community expectations 
• Racism, faith discrimination, and xenophobia 
• Accessing contraception and STI testing 
• Safer sex autonomy and exploring pleasure 
• Taboos around menstruation 
• Identifying as LGBTQIAP+ and coming out 
• Relationship dynamics and boundaries 
• Unplanned and unwanted pregnancies  
• Emotional and physical abuse and violence 

Partnerships expertise and support

We are varied in our approaches and inclusive of everybody throughout the communities we serve and the multiple ethnicities, faith, background and personal experiences.
SASH are proud to partner with NAZ, who have over 30 years of experience working across London to address sexual health inequalities in Black, Brown and Global Majority communities.  

Inclusive support

Sometimes you may feel unable to access support services due to concerns about being judged, being misunderstood, or facing stigma. This can end up affecting or impacting your sexual and/or reproductive health and wellbeing, resulting in mental and physical health problems if sexual health support is not sought out.
Here at SASH, we endeavour as a service to ensure you have access to sexual health support that meets you and your needs, helping you to navigate and overcome these challenges.
Alongside our counselling, coaching and peer mentoring services, we also provide 1-to-1 support and workshops that: 

• Create safe spaces and platforms  
• Provide accessible resources 
• Explore relationships, reproductive health, and sexual health education
• Provide full contraception and STI options and information 
• Offer sexual and reproductive health advice   

We are happy to customise workshops to address challenges and barriers specific to diverse religious or cultural backgrounds in relation to their sexual health and wellbeing.   

Speak to SASH for free confidential and non-judgemental counselling, coaching and peer mentoring to improve your sexual health and well-being.