Nearly 2,000 students reached through HPV awareness events across north east London

The North East London Cancer Alliance (NELCA) engaged with nearly 2,000 students across universities and colleges in September 2026, raising awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the importance of vaccination in preventing HPV-related cancers.

As part of its ongoing commitment to improving HPV vaccination awareness and uptake among young people aged 16–25, NELCA attended five Freshers’ Fair events across four educational institutions in north east London between 15 and 21 September 2026.

The events provided an opportunity to speak directly with students about HPV, the importance of getting vaccinated and how eligible young people can access the HPV vaccine.

Engaging young people across North East London

The awareness campaign began on 15 September at the London College of Music and Drama, where the team engaged with approximately 100 students. This was followed by a visit to the London Fashion Retail Academy, reaching a further 86 students.

NELCA then attended two Freshers’ Fair events at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), engaging with more than 100 students per hour and reaching at least 1,000 students across both days.

The final event took place at the University of East London on 21 September, where the team engaged with at least 700 students.

Across all five events, nearly 2,000 students were reached, helping to raise awareness of HPV and the importance of vaccination among young people.

Starting conversations about HPV prevention

Throughout the events, the NELCA team spoke with students about HPV, its link to certain cancers and the protection offered by vaccination.

Students were encouraged to learn more about their vaccination status and explore the options available to them if they had not yet received the HPV vaccine.

A range of promotional materials, including information leaflets, posters, tote bags, reusable cups, water bottles, notepads and pens, helped attract students to the stands and encourage conversations about HPV prevention.

Ifeoma Oyelami, Project Manager at North East London Cancer Alliance, said: I am delighted to say that the HPV awareness events were highly engaging and impactful, providing valuable and rewarding experience for both the participants and myself and colleague from Cancer Alliance who staffed the Stalls.

Supporting cancer prevention through vaccination

HPV is a common virus that can cause several types of cancer, including cervical cancer and some head and neck cancers. Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect against HPV-related cancers.

These outreach events form part of NELCA's wider 2026/27 priorities to improve HPV vaccination awareness and uptake, particularly among young people who may have missed their vaccination when it was first offered.

By bringing information directly to students in familiar and accessible settings, NELCA aims to empower more young people to make informed decisions about their health and take steps towards preventing HPV-related cancers.

More information 

For more information about HPV, Vaccine eligibility and how to assess vaccination in North East London, Visit the North East London Cancer Alliance HPV webpage or the dedicatd queer community resouce developed with the Love Tank.

Read more about Cervical screening. 

Read our Case study on the work we are doing on the HPV vaccine and the cervical screening. 

Download our HPV Patient leaflet