George House Trust Podcast #1

posted: 14/07/2011

George House Trust has produced its first podcast which is now available to view online through any mobile device with an internet connection.

Click here to view our podcast
 

In this webisode Chief Executive Rosie Robinson and Vice Chair David Teasdale talk about the recent effects the current economic climate has had on GHT and explain the subsequent changes GHT has made to both the staffing structure and the services which it provides. Rosie and David also explain the process involved in making those decisions.

The podcast was produced using the existing skills of the staff team and will hopefully be a regular and effective way of communicating to our service users, volunteers and supporters.

We hope to bring you more podcasts in the future so watch this space.
 

GHT's Trustees agree a Strategic Partnership Position Statement

posted: 02/06/2011

This position statement comes during the worst economic recession to impact on the voluntary sector in the UK in living history. As a consequence, many charities face significant funding cuts, some have already ceased trading and up to 50% of charities in the UK are not expected to survive the recession.

The Trustees of George House Trust (GHT) are particularly concerned about the future of HIV social care services for people living with HIV across the North West of England.There is a real danger that the strong legacy of the HIV social care sector could be lost.

GHT’s Trustees believe that it is vital that HIV social care provision is maintained for all people living with HIV.In order to achieve this, charities within the HIV sector in the North West, and across the UK if necessary, will need to explore dynamic and creative ways of working together strategically.

This work could take a number of forms: from greater sharing of information and knowledge through to pooling resources, joint funding applications, influencing commissioners, forming consortia in order to win contracts and mergers.

GHT welcomes opportunities to explore new ways of working with highly regarded charities within the HIV sector. This will help to ensure the survival of HIV social care services within the North West. 

Anyone requesting further details should contact our Chief Executive Rosie Robinson.

Have Your Say - Manchester Cuts

posted: 17/05/2011

People living in Manchester are asked for their views on the future of adult social care services in the city. The council has to save £109m this year, rising to £170m next – 25% of its whole budget.
 

The council’s plans for making cuts in adult social care are now available and there are 24 local events in May and June where council staff can explain the proposals, answer questions and help fill in questionnaires.
 

There are four main things the city council is asking residents about

• Supporting people services
• Cuts and changes in voluntary and community sector
• Changes to social care services
• Charges for social care services.

The city plans to change the way it allocates money to the voluntary sector and for supporting people, by assessing the quality and cost of services, and make more use of Telecare and equipment, and change the way it allocates money.
 

Manchester also proposes to change its charges for social care, for example, by ending its maximum charge so people who can pay more will pay the full cost, whatever that is.
 

How to have your say
You can read the proposals and then answer questions online, or you can visit one of the 24 events being held over the next three weeks.
 

Please take part

The more people with HIV living in Manchester who take part the better.

The main proposals and consultation for people with HIV is here. The last public event where you can ask questions is on Friday 3 June and you must send any comments in on this one by Wednesday 6 July.

Some of the documents are PowerPoint presentations that show you what they propose and you will need a computer programme to see this. Here is a link to the free Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer for you to download and install if you need this.

Councillor Glynn Evans, executive member for adults services at Manchester City Council said: "Manchester looks after a large number of vulnerable and elderly people who need support and care, and we remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible services, despite the very challenging circumstances.
"These proposals will affect people’s lives, so it is vitally important that all carers, residents and people who use our services themselves, tell us what they think and have their say.
"The council has to make significant savings to balance our smaller budget and we have seen a massive reduction in our budgets like supporting people. We believe these proposals are the fairest we could draw up in these very difficult times, but this is an open and genuine consultation process and all views and ideas will be considered."
 

Events across the city now

The adult social care consultation events began on 9 May and the last is on Friday 3 June.
 

Deadline for public comments varies with each of the consultations, two are on 14 June, another is 6 July, the last is on 8 August:

• Voluntary and community sector consultation on future funding runs until 14 June 2011
• Supporting people consultation on future funding runs until 14 June 2011 
• Proposed changes to social care provision runs until 6 July 2011
• Charging for social care consultation runs until 8 August 2011

Social Care Consultations or phone the Contact Service on 0161 234 5001.
 

HIV Message to Social Services - Protect Funding

posted: 09/02/2011

Deborah Jack, the chief executive of National AIDS Trust, has now written to every director of adult social services, calling on them to protect spending for people with HIV.

We very recently reported (Disadvantage Affects HIV Futures) how much of a difference support to end people's social disadvantage makes to whether people live well with HIV, or fall ill and die early.

This multinational study showed that social disadvantage - poverty, class, gender, ethnicity - make a critical difference to how long and healthily people live with HIV. People nearer the bottom of the heap – because of low income, poverty and social disadvantages - get ill much sooner, and die much younger.

That’s why spending on HIV social care matters. It makes a clear difference in life and death.

Here’s what Deborah Jack wrote and told all the Social Services directors :

Dear Director

The importance of social care for people with HIV

Our chair, Dame Denise Platt, has asked me to write to you, in your capacity as director of adult social services, to highlight the vital importance of continuing to fund social care services for people living with HIV over the next year.

As you will know, the Aids Support Grant, which funded social care for people with HIV, is now part of councils' overall formula grant. However, AIDS support remains an identifiable allocation specifically calculated to enable you to meet the needs of people with HIV in your area. I am sure you will be aware how much your council has been allocated for 2011-12, We firmly believe that spending this allocation on services that meet the specific needs of people living with HIV will deliver value for money and be a cost-effective investment in the long term.

Social care for people with HIV provides a lifeline for many vulnerable people, enabling them to retain their independence and have as normal as possible life. The government has clearly identified this as a primary aim and has acknowledged the continuing need for HIV social care and the necessity to protect these services through the continued existence of a specific and distinct amount of money with its own allocation formula.

Investing in HIV social care services has long-term benefits both in terms of the council's finances, but also for the health of your local population. Good-quality social care is an essential part of keeping people well and avoiding expensive hospital in-patient care and more complex and costly community support. The closer liaison between yourselves and the local NHS as we go forwards only goes to further increase the benefits of the continued funding of HIV social care.

A reduction in HIV social care services will also have public health implications which, with the council's forthcoming public health role, should be taken into consideration when determining funding now. Research shows that when people with HIV are suffering from depression and other forms of psychological distress they are less likely to adhere to their HIV treatment. Non-adherence not only impacts on the individual's own health but also on the health of others, as they become more infectious and therefore there is a greater risk they will pass the virus on, creating further demands for local health and social care services.

HIV social care provides a wide range of services including counselling, peer support, support for carers, respite care and support for children and young people affected by HIV. Many of these services are provided by small community-based voluntary organisations who deliver value above and beyond the direct cost of the services. As well as delivering support these organisations often provide a voice for people living with HIV at a local level, but a reduction in short-term funding for HIV social care services by the council may well threaten their future viability.

I hope that the issues I have highlighted above will serve to convince you of the importance of using the money allocated to 'HIV/AIDS support' within the formula grant to continue to fund essential social care support for people living with HIV. If you would like to discuss any of these matters further please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Yours sincerely,

Deborah Jack

HIV Money for Councils

posted: 21/12/2010

The Government have now said how much each council will receive for HIV social care in the next two years. This used to be paid as 'AIDS Support Grant'.  

Increased Grant

Remarkably the funding identified for ‘AIDS Support’ is increased from £25.5 million this year (2010/11) and will rise to £36.2 million by 2014/15.

HIV community organisations worked hard to keep the amount for HIV listed within the overall grant to councils. This will mean people can ask what this HIV funding is really being spent on.

psending Ring-Fence Gone

The bad news is that this HIV money is no longer 'ring-fenced'. This means the council could spend the HIV money on anything. We need local people to help be our eyes and ears and put pressure on councils to spend the cash on HIV and nothing else.
 

MPs welcome increase

“This is a huge achievement.” said Simon Kirby MP, Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for HIV and AIDS, who pushed for this increase. “With many councils having to make savings of up to 10% this year, there is no doubt that there will be pressure on all services including HIV services. But if councils receive a specific named ‘AIDS Support Grant’ people living with HIV have a good case to argue that the money should be spent on them.”
The All Party Parliamentary Group policy adviser, Veronica Oakeshott, says that HIV campaigners will still have a fight on their hands to ensure the grant “does what it says on the tin.”
 

Cuts presssure

Because of the cuts to council spending the government announced last week (the maximum 8.9% cut hits Manchester and other councils) there are great financial pressures on local authorities. Councils will be tempted to spend this HIV money on other, more popular services.

We encourage people to tell their local authority to spend all its 'HIV/AIDS Support' allocation on social care for people with HIV.

Tell your councillors what they should be spending on HIV 

You can find details of your local councillors using your email address and then send an email at WriteToThem

NW England table showing HIV funding (April 2009 to April 2013) from central government to councils that provide social care services

HIV money for each council for the year April 2011 - April 2012
HIV money for each council for the year April 2012 - April 2013

More information on HIV social care on NAT's website