Spectra CIC

Who we are

Spectra's mission is to improve the health and well-being of diverse and often marginalised communities by empowering individuals to make positive, informed choices about their lives, including health and mental wellbeing. We provide supportive, knowledgeable, non-judgemental and peer-based services. These include counselling, outreach, social and therapeutic groups, youth groups, advocacy, testing and 121 support. Whilst we work with all people who experience inequalities, our main client groups are:

• Trans and non-binary people
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and questioning people (including Men who have Sex with Men)
• Sex Workers
• Young people

Our culture and values

We provide peer‑led services, formed by our experience of working with local communities in London. Our work is aimed at people who experience inequality, stigma or barriers to care. Alongside our frontline work, we support professionals and organisations through training, consultancy and community‑led research, helping their services to be more inclusive and responsive to the needs of their community.

Our work is shaped by lived experience, long‑standing relationships and a strong commitment to ethical, trauma‑informed practice. We work across community, voluntary and statutory settings, and are experienced in commissioned, subcontracted and partnership delivery.

At Spectra, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, care and respect. We aim to create spaces where people feel listened to, supported and empowered, and where learning and improvement are always ongoing.

Our vision, mission and values inform:

• The services we deliver with communities
• How we work with partners, commissioners and schools
• Our approach to safeguarding, ethics and governance
• How we reflect, learn and improve over time

Our approach

Spectra is built on lived experience. We believe that people are experts in their own lives and deserve services that honour their identities and realities.

We work in ways that are:

• Inclusive: welcoming and affirming of everyone
• Supportive and emotionally aware: rooted in care
• Accessible: low-barrier, practical and person-centred
• Anti-oppressive: challenging inequality in every part of our work
• Community-driven: shaped by the voices and experiences of those we serve

Vision

Spectra envision a world where LGBTQ+ people and people from other marginalised communities facing health inequalities, discrimination, and systemic barriers can make informed choices about their health and wellbeing. We strive for a future where everyone can access effective, inclusive support and feel supported in making choices that reflect their needs and identities.

Mission

Spectra is a sexual health, HIV and wellbeing organisation rooted in the LGBTQ+ community with a broader commitment to supporting other marginalised communities. We deliver inclusive, supportive, and accessible services led by and centred on people with lived experience. We support LGBTQ+ communities, trans and non-binary people, sex workers, people living with HIV, asylum seekers, people of colour, young people, and others facing systemic barriers. We challenge structural harms, reduce stigma, and build community through accessible, anti-oppressive approaches.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

We want our team to reflect the communities we work with. Lived experience, community knowledge and non-traditional career paths are valued at Spectra.

We particularly encourage applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racially minoritised communities, disabled people, people living with HIV, and people with lived experience related to our services.