Let’s Talk About STI Testing

Aim

Help make a short film exploring what people know about HIV and STI testing, gaps in education and barriers to getting tested.

Let’s Talk About STI Testing: Help Fund a London Film

What did we learn about STIs: and did it prepare us to get a test?

I’m raising £8,000 to make an approximately ten-minute film exploring what people understand about HIV and other STI testing, what questions they have, and what would make testing easier to discuss.

Why this film?

In the Sex Education Forum’s 2025 survey, 52% of 16–17-year-olds in England said they had learned nothing or not enough about accessing local sexual-health services.

In conversations and online discussions, I’ve also encountered uncertainty about when and why to test and the fact that asking for a test feels taboo. 

I want to explore this subject by listening to members of the public, then bringing the questions that emerge to a sexual-health professional for clear explanations and practical signposting.

What I’ll make

The project will draw on up to 30 short interviews in London. I’ll ask what people remember learning about STIs, how they would find testing information, and what would help them feel more comfortable discussing testing.

The finished film and a small set of captioned clips will be available free on youtube. I aim to publish them within about four months of receiving the funds.

The questions will focus on what people know about testing and how they would access it. I’m keeping the interviews as un-intrusive as possible people can skip any question and choose to remain anonymous. Where participants choose anonymity, their contributions can be presented using voiceovers.

This is an exploratory film: interviews can reveal questions worth addressing, but cannot tell us what the whole country thinks.

Why me?

I’m Rachel, creator of The Science Intersection podcast. I have a BSc in Biomedical Science, an MSc in Neuroscience, and experience interviewing, filming street interviews and editing.

I’ve independently produced seven podcast seasons, handling research, guest preparation, interviews, editing and publication.

Explore my previous work:
 https://www.thescienceintersection.com/podcasts

What your donation funds

Your support will pay for:

• My preparation, interviewing and editing time.
• A filming collaborator, travel and modest food expenses.
• Voiceovers for participants who choose anonymity.
• Specialist checking of health information.
• Captions, sound finishing, insurance and any necessary room hire
• Payment-processing costs and a contingency allowance.

I already have the filming equipment. Funding will give me and my collaborators paid time to deliver the project.

If we raise more or less

This is a “keep what you raise” campaign. If we raise less than £8,000, I’ll reduce the number of interviews or the film’s length while continuing to pay people for their work. If the amount is too small to make a useful film, I’ll update supporters with a proposed next step before spending it.

Any surplus or savings will support related follow-up work on HIV or other STI testing and stigma. I’ll share updates explaining how funds are used. If unforeseen circumstances prevent the original film going ahead, I’ll explain the proposed next steps before redirecting funds.

Help make the film happen

Please donate what you can, or share the campaign with someone interested in sexual health, science communication or independent film.

Your support will help bring people’s questions into the open—and make reliable answers available to others.

Thank you,
 Rachel

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st December 2026 at 3:06pm