Sexual health and HIV charity, Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), in partnership with Abbott, has launched an exciting new competition called Let's Get Tested. The competition, which closes on February 28th, aims to highlight the importance of sexual health by asking young people aged 15-25 to make a short film about getting regularly tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The winner of the competition will receive £2,000 and the opportunity to work with a leading British director or producer to professionally make their film.

Glen Wallace who plays Malachy Fisher in Hollyoaks is supporting the Let’s Get Tested competition and has made his own film. Glen says: “Playing a character like Malachy who has been affected by HIV made me realise how important it is to talk about sexual health. I play a character who was recently diagnosed with HIV and it’s definitely got me thinking about HIV and STIs. Let’s Get Tested aims to get people talking about safer sex and sexual health and we’re really interested to hear what you’ve got to say, so why not have a go? Good luck!”

Gareth Davies at Terrence Higgins Trust said: “Young people represent only 12% of the population, but account for nearly half of all STIs diagnosed in GUM clinics across the UK in 2007. With that in mind it’s especially important that young people know the facts about HIV and sexual health. If you’re under 25 and want to have your say on Let’s Get Tested, we’d love to hear from you! “

Films can be made by a group of people or individually, using a video camera or a webcam. To enter simply visit www.letsgettested.org.uk to register and upload your film.  Films will be uploaded onto YouTube at www.youtube.com/letsgettested where visitors to the site can watch and rate them.

When the competition closes, an expert panel will review the films with the highest average score and ten finalists will be invited to a VIP reception where the winner will be announced.

To be eligible for the competition, films need to be factually accurate, not be offensive, respect copyright laws, and be made by UK residents aged between 15 and 25.

For more information and to submit your film visit www.letsgettested.org.uk.

Notes to Editor

• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We're here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups.  We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all. Terrence Higgins Trust relies on donations to deliver a wide range of services. To make a donation, visit www.tht.org.uk
  
• Abbott UK is headquartered in Maidenhead, Berkshire, with facilities in Kent, Oxfordshire, Lancashire and the Midlands. An Investor in People, the company currently employs more than 2,000 staff nationwide. Abbott is a global, broad-based healthcare company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 68,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries. More information is available on the company's UK website at www.abbott.co.uk.
  
• Abbott has been a leader in HIV/AIDS research since the early years of the epidemic.  In 1985, the company developed the first licensed test to detect HIV antibodies in the blood and remains a leader in HIV diagnostics.  Abbott retroviral and hepatitis tests are used to screen more than half of the world's donated blood supply.  Abbott has developed two protease inhibitors for the treatment of HIV.  For more information on Abbott's HIV/AIDS programmes, please visit www.abbott.com/hiv and www.abbottglobalcare.org.