18 May 2026
From 18–25 May 2026, organisations across Europe will come together for European Testing Week, a campaign focused on raising awareness of HIV and hepatitis testing and encouraging more people to access life-saving support and treatment.
At The Forward Trust, we are proud to stand alongside partners in the Hep C Providers Forum as part of a shared movement working towards the elimination of hepatitis C.
This year’s campaign recognises the huge progress already made, while reinforcing an important message: we are not stopping until hepatitis C has been micro-eliminated across all services.
More than half of the services within the Hep C Providers Forum have already achieved micro-elimination of hepatitis C, a major milestone that demonstrates what is possible when services, healthcare professionals and peers work together. But there is still more to do.
Hepatitis C often has no obvious symptoms in its early stages, meaning many people may not realise they are living with the virus. Left untreated, it can cause serious liver damage and long-term health complications.
The good news is that hepatitis C is curable.
A simple finger-prick test can detect the virus, and treatment is now highly effective, with a short course of tablets curing around 97% of people. Early testing and treatment can prevent serious illness and save lives.
This year, the Hep C Providers Forum campaign is encouraging everyone, professionals, peers and members of the public, to become a #HepCTestHero.
Whether it is offering a test, encouraging a friend to get tested, or attending an appointment yourself, every action helps move us closer to eliminating hepatitis C.
We know we cannot reach everyone alone. Peer-to-peer conversations and community support remain some of the most powerful tools in encouraging people to access testing and treatment.
If you know someone who may be at risk, one conversation could change, or even save, their life.
As part of European Testing Week, The Forward Trust will be hosting a Blood Borne Virus (BBV) Testing Day on Tuesday 19 May 2026 at the Margate Hub.
The event will provide an opportunity for people to access testing, information and support in a welcoming environment, helping to raise awareness of hepatitis C and other blood-borne viruses.
Our teams will be on hand to answer questions, provide advice and support people to access treatment if needed.
European Testing Week is about more than testing: it is about hope, action and collective progress.
At The Forward Trust, we remain committed to continuing this work alongside the Hep C Providers Forum and partners across the sector. Every person cured brings us closer to a future free from hepatitis C. Amelia Greensill, Regional Manager across our East Kent services, said:
"Across The Forward Trust Community Drug and Alcohol Services, we are committed to achieving micro elimination. We work with Hep C nurses and The Hep C Trust to support individuals with a positive screening to access treatment as soon as possible, safely and confidentially. In many cases, individuals can collect their medications during their appointment at treatment. The community nurses and recovery workers are working to offer Hep C testing not just at the main Forward hubs, but also in other community spaces. We will be targeting some key areas such as Chatham, Faversham and Canterbury over the coming weeks."
For more information about European Testing Week, visit the official website.
To learn more about hepatitis C testing and support, visit The Hepatitis C Trust or order a free home testing kit through NHS Hepatitis C Home Testing.
