Resource for community partners

Increasing uptake of cervical screening among 25 to 29-year-olds in the South East.

1.Introduction

NHS England South East is launching a new campaign, Love Your Cervix, aimed at women aged 25-29. The campaign will launch on Thursday 19th June 2025.

The overarching campaign is designed to increase awareness about the importance of cervical screening, encourage those who are eligible to attend cervical screening appointments, and help support healthy, lifelong screening behaviours.

The campaign aims to empower individuals to take charge of their health and take-up their invitation to attend cervical screening.

The problem we are aiming to address

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it leads to approximately 685 deaths a year in England.

Most cervical cancers occur in those who have never accessed cervical screening or do not attend for regular screening.

In the South East, uptake for cervical screening among a younger cohort is under 60% across some practices compared to the wider eligible age group of 25-64. The overall national target is 80%.

We want to increase uptake in all age groups but particularly in younger women. This is because evidence shows that once people start participating in cervical screening they tend to carry on if they have a good experience, so it is important to reach those individuals having screening for the first time.  Although the campaign is relevant to all ages, this is why we are focussing specifically on younger women.

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme currently recommends cervical screening every three years for women aged 25-49 and every five years for those aged 50-64. People usually stop being invited for screening once they turn 65. From July 2025, younger women (aged 25 to 49) who test negative for HPV, meaning they are at very low risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years, will safely be invited at 5-year intervals rather than 3, in line with major clinical evidence. More information is available on the interval change.

All eligible people who are registered with a GP (as female) automatically receive an invitation by mail, text or through the NHS App.

Transgender men (assigned female at birth) are entitled to screening if they have a cervix.

Since summer 2024, transgender men need to opt-in to cervical screening if:

  • they have changed their gender on their GP record from female to male (or unspecified);
  • they have been issued a new NHS number; and
  • they have not had cervical screening since they were given their new NHS number.

Individuals should contact their GP practice to ask about the opt-in form. The first invitation is sent to eligible people up to six months before they turn 25.

Transgender men who have changed their gender on their GP record from female to male (or unspecified), not received a new NHS number and who have had cervical screening in the past, will receive an invitation for screening.

Under-screened and never-screened people are most at risk of cervical cancer.

More information on the NHS Cervical Screening Programme can be found on the NHS website.

2. Supporting people aged 25-29 to have cervical screening

We can all influence, support, and inspire those we care about when it comes to prioritising their health.

We’re asking you to break that silence and initiate open, positive conversations about cervical screening. By doing so, we can help to remove the stigma and barriers which prevent some people from seeking advice, asking questions, and getting screened.

While discussing cervical screening may seem daunting, remember that this conversation could be life-saving. By openly addressing the importance of cervical screening, we empower individuals to take charge of their health.

Encouraging someone to prioritise their cervical health through screening can lead to prevention of or early detection and treatment of cervical cancer, potentially saving lives.

Don’t underestimate the impact of a simple conversation – it could truly make all the difference.

Using this resource

This resource will help to support your participation in the regional campaign. It outlines practical ways you can actively participate in the regional campaign by encouraging all women, but particularly those aged 25-29, to have cervical screening.

Section 3 provides resources and information to help you to promote cervical health and encourage regular cervical screening. This includes:

  • The Love Your Cervix campaign materials
  • NHS and other appropriate guidance and resources for specific groups and circumstances

Please use this resource to support conversations about the importance of cervical screening, and to address any misconceptions. With your help we can increase the number of women, particularly 25-29-year-olds, undertaking cervical screening – potentially saving lives.

Supporting the campaign

Our campaign Love Your Cervix will include radio and outdoor advertising, social media activity, and media engagement. The campaign is being supported by a range of NHS, voluntary, community and local authority partners who will share and promote the campaign and have conversations with their members and people in their communities.

We hope you will also support the campaign in the most appropriate way for you.

By supporting the campaign, you can help to raise awareness, change attitudes and potentially help to save lives. Here are some activities you can do to support the campaign:

Provide information and raise awareness among 25-29-year-olds

You could:

  • print and make available campaign materials in community venues that 25-29 years olds visit, for example sporting facilities, mother and toddler groups, family centres and local businesses – there are downloadable resources in section 3
  • host an information session that includes interactive elements such as a quiz on the key facts about cervical screening, or include it as part of an existing discussion, to inform your community members about cervical screening, its importance, how it can prevent cervical cancer, and help to address some common misconceptions
  • organise or contribute ideas for community events such as health fairs and wellness days, where attendees can find out more about cervical screening
  • use social media and community newsletters to share campaign materials and information

Outreach and engagement with 25-29-year-olds

You could:

  • collaborate with your local GP surgery to organise a screening event or mobile clinic in your community building or for your members
  • connect members to local voluntary organisations who might be able to offer transport assistance or childcare services free or at a reduced rate to help to remove barriers to accessing screening appointments

Addressing barriers that some 25-29-year-olds may face

You could:

  • help address barriers that may prevent the 25-29-year-olds you know from accessing screening services, such as language barriers, and transport issues
  • collaborate with local GP surgeries to offer culturally sensitive screening and information. This could include localised promotional materials such as posters, signs and social media content, or providing training to clinics around cultural sensitivities

Peer support and advocacy for 25-29-year-olds

You could collaborate with local GP surgeries to:

  • recruit and train community members to serve as peer educators or advocates for cervical screening within their social networks
  • facilitate support groups or peer-led discussions where individuals can share their experiences with screening and encourage others to prioritise their health

3. Resources

Love Your Cervix campaign materials

A suite of Love Your Cervix campaign materials for community groups and others to use is available to download:

  • campaign posters
  • campaign leaflet (Due to be released shortly)
  • digital screen to download and display where appropriate
  • frequently asked questions and key facts about cervical screening (Due to be released shortly)
  • social media assets.

These materials are available on the NHS England South East website.

Guidance and resources for specific groups and circumstances

People with learning disabilities

LGBTQIA+ people

Trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth

People who may be anxious about attending

Victims of sexual violence

Support is available for people across the South East who have been affected by rape or sexual violence. More information is available online here.

People who have experienced Female Genital Mutilation

People with vulval pain

People who require colposcopy