the lesbian and gay foundation

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation have received £27,500 from Manchester Pride to support the free Condom and Lube Scheme! The long-running scheme, now provides around 600,000 free packs of condoms and lube which are distributed across hundreds of locations.

Manchester Pride 2010 raised £115,000, which has been split equally between the LGF Condom and Lube Scheme, the GHT Welfare Fund, the Pride Community Grant and the Pride HIV Fund.

What is the Condom and Lube Scheme?

Manchester’s Condom & Lube Distribution Scheme (CLDS) has been running for over 15 years, and helps to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections, and HIV in the region. Over 600,000 individual condoms and 600,000 sachets of water based lube are distributed every year. Over Manchester Pride 2010, 80,000 condoms and 80,000 sachets of water based lube were distributed throughout the ten day festival.

The Free Condom & Lube Distribution Scheme (CLDS) is funded by local Primary Care Trusts as well as Manchester Pride. It helps to make sure that the condoms and lube remain free and available throughout the year, where they are needed most.

Why is it important?

The scheme aims to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the region. To do this it is essential that men have easy access to the tools they need in order to have the safest sex possible - free condoms, and water-based lube.

Where is it?

The scheme is one of the longest running and highly regarded of its kind in the country. It is promoted in over 75 venues in Greater Manchester. All of the gay bars and clubs in Manchester’s Gay village make the free condom and lube freely available. They can also be found at sexual health clinics, saunas, hotels and many other venues throughout the region.

“Back in the early 1990’s funding for HIV prevention schemes was scarce and many of today’s younger gay and bisexual men have not benefited from the high visibility of earlier sexual health campaigns while some older men have become complacent about their sexual health.

One of the key aims of the Lesbian and Gay Foundation is to reduce the numbers of gay and bisexual men who are picking up and passing on HIV and tackling the spread of sexually transmitted infections. To do this it is essential that all men who have sex with men in the Greater Manchester area have easy access to the tools they need in order to have the safest and best sex possible – free condoms, and water-based lube.

It is with huge thanks to Manchester Pride and every single person who enjoys the festival every year that we are able to continue to deliver this unique scheme.”

Rob Cookson, Director of Operations for the LGF 

Read Paul Martin’s (Chief Executive of The Lesbian & Gay Foundation) interview here.