Call us on: 01253 311431 | Email: enquiries@ren-uk.com
Call us on: 01253 311431 | Email: enquiries@ren-uk.com
Are you committed to creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels safe, respected and valued?
Beyond the Label is an interactive training session designed to raise awareness of HIV-related stigma, explore its real-world impacts, and equip teams with the confidence and tools to challenge it effectively.
Developed as part of Renaissance UK’s REVOLUTION project, this session combines expert facilitation with the powerful, authentic voices of people living with HIV, whose stories are shared (with consent) to bring the topic to life. The training is ideal for professionals, teams, and services who want to better understand stigma and be part of the solution.
Despite huge advances in HIV prevention, treatment, and public understanding, stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to testing, diagnosis, care, and support. It leads to:
Explore how HIV stigma shows up today - from overt discrimination to subtle assumptions and unconscious bias. We examine how stigma has evolved, and why it still shapes attitudes, systems and lived experience.
Discover how everyday language, media portrayals, and workplace conversations influence perceptions of HIV. Learn how small shifts in wording can promote dignity, accuracy, and inclusion.
Challenge outdated beliefs about transmission, treatment and risk. We separate fact from fiction and build confidence in discussing HIV clearly and accurately.
Hear powerful stories from people living with HIV that reveal the emotional and social impact of stigma. These lived experiences bring depth, humanity, and perspective to the session.
Gain realistic, achievable strategies for responding to stigma in professional and everyday settings. Leave with practical language, approaches and confidence to act.
Move beyond awareness to meaningful change. Identify how policies, leadership, and workplace culture can actively reduce stigma and create safe environments.
This training is suitable for anyone who wants to be part of tackling stigma and improving inclusion – especially:
The training is delivered by Mike Downey, Renaissance UK’s Training and Awareness Lead. Mike is an experienced facilitator with a background in stigma reduction, health equity, and community engagement.
While Mike is not living with HIV, the training is deeply rooted in the real experiences of people who are. Their voices, stories, and insights are at the heart of the session - shared with care, consent, and a clear commitment to dignity and respect.
"A must for anyone working with people. It challenged us in all the right ways."
"The use of real voices and stories made it incredibly powerful."
"I thought I understood HIV, but I realised how much bias still exists."
We offer flexible delivery options designed to suit your organisation’s structure, capacity, and goals – whether you’re planning a focused awareness session or a deeper development workshop.
The full training package last 2 and a half hours, however we also offer bitesize sessions on request if time is limited.
The training can be delivered both in-person and online through Microsoft Teams to suit your needs.
The training is suitable for both small intimate groups and larger organisation-wide staff events.
The training package uses interactive elements and group activities to encourage discussion between participants.
Evidence-informed content
Real lived-experience narratives (shared with consent)
Interactive exercises and reflection
Practical, workplace-ready tools
Follow-up toolkit for participants
Not at all. The session is designed to be accessible for everyone, whether you’re completely new to the topic or already engaged with EDI or public health work.
The session includes carefully curated stories from people living with HIV, shared via video, audio, and written narrative — always with consent. It does not include live personal disclosures from the facilitator.
Absolutely. We’re happy to work with you to align the training with your EDI goals or integrate it into a broader programme.
Yes – all attendees receive a toolkit of resources, signposting links, and practical tips for challenging stigma after the session.
Reach out to our team on our contact page and we’ll reply as soon as possible.
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