Consultancy & Research
We work with commissioners, local authorities, health partners, charities and event organisers to design and deliver ethical, evidence‑led consultancy rooted in lived experience. Our work supports better services, stronger engagement and more inclusive practice.
Looking for professional training instead? See our Professional Training page.
Information about longer‑term strategic relationships can be found on our Partnerships page.
Community-led research & insight
We design and deliver participatory research with communities who are often excluded from traditional consultation and research processes. Our approach prioritises trust, safety and ethical practice, and produces clear, usable insight for services and commissioners.
What we offer
- Co‑produced, community‑led research
- Focus groups, surveys and qualitative insight
- Ethical research design, safeguarding and consent
- Practical recommendations for service improvement and commissioning
Example
Sex work and sexual exploitation in Merton: commissioned research combining lived experience and service‑provider insight to inform local service design.
Consultancy & Service Development
Alongside research, we offer commissioned consultancy to support organisations to improve access, inclusion and outcomes for marginalised communities.
This includes
- Service and pathway reviews
- Practice development and organisational learning
- Inclusive service design and delivery support
- Facilitated learning and reflection for teams and leaders
Our consultancy work is always scoped collaboratively and tailored to local context and need.
Joined‑up services at outreach events
We collaborate with partners to deliver joined‑up, community‑centred services at local and regional events, including health and outreach settings.
What we offer
- On‑site specialist support and advice
- Partnership delivery with health, local authority and VCSE teams
- Pop‑up service models with clear referral routes
This approach works particularly well where trust, visibility and accessibility matter.
Our approach
All consultancy and research work is delivered within clear organisational policies on safeguarding, ethics, confidentiality and data protection. We use trauma‑informed, consent‑led approaches and centre lived experience without tokenism.
If you would like further detail on our policies, governance or evaluation approach, please contact us.
Past work
Continuity of HRT Care: A Practical Guide for GPs
October 3, 2025
Continuity of HRT Care is essential for the wellbeing of trans patients. This practical guide for GPs outlines ethical prescribing practices and offers actionable advice to support trans individuals through prescription gaps in…
SWL Young People’s Services: An e-service review
August 5, 2024
This report details the findings from a series of focus groups and survey sessions run by Spectra CIC in 2024 to investigate the preference of young people in Southwest London towards their sexual…
Spectra at British HIV Association Spring Conference 2024
May 13, 2024
Our Research and Performance Coordinator Grace attended the British HIV Association (BHIVA) Spring Conference 2024, which took place from Monday 29th April to Wednesday 1st May in Birmingham. Grace was impressed with the…
Sex Worker Health Inclusion Report
March 1, 2024
Today, we are publishing a report on sex workers’ (SWers) healthcare in London. This report is based on information and data collated through our work with the sex worker community via outreach, activities…
Merton Sexual Health Strategy Consultation
March 18, 2019
Sexual Health Strategy Consultation The London Borough of Merton (LBM) and Merton Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS, CCG), working alongside NHS England, are responsible for commissioning sexual health services across Merton. To inform the…