Condom Information Session

posted: 11/05/2011

We have a hands on Information Session for National Condom Week on Tuesday 24 May, starting at 12 noon.  National condom week begins on 16th May, and our Information Session gives you a down to earth and practical approach to enjoy using condoms, coupled with the facts.

While condom makers, sexual health clinics and others run web, newspaper, TV and radio campaigns encouraging people to use condoms, we're helping you get the very best out of them.

Dunkan MacLean, Service Adviser, will be leading the session at George House Trust starting at 12 noon on Tuesday 24th May (the Information Session finishes at 2.30pm).

Find out

• techniques for using condoms correctly
• recent technical advances in condom design
• talk about which condoms might be right for you
• have a frank and open discussion about using condoms.

This Condom Information Session is the first of the new regular information sessions we will run every 4th Tuesday of each month. The future Information Sessions are listed below.

Free condom goodies for all

Everyone who attends will have the opportunity to take a good bag of the various condom types available.

If you have any questions about this session please contact Dunkan MacLean 0161 274 4499 or email him

Future Information Sessions 12 noon - 2.30pm

• Keeping Fit with HIV - Wednesday 28 June
• Having a Negative Baby - Wednesday 26 July
• Assertiveness and Confidence - Wednesday 23 August
• Treatment Update - Wednesday 27 September
• Nutrition - Wednesday 25 October
• Relaxation - Wednesday 22 November
• No Information Session before Christmas in December
• Hepatitis C - Wednesday 24 January 2012
• Stopping Smoking - Wednesday 28 February 2012
• Alcohol - Wednesday 27 March 2012

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Changes to Our Services

posted: 18/04/2011

There are some exciting changes to services at George House Trust. Some of the group spaces will happen less often, but we will have three new services for everyone. People using George House Trust services have asked us for more chances to meet with a wide mix of people living with HIV – opportunities to meet others that are not based on gender, race, or sexuality.
 

Saturday Space is every month and will stay the same.
 

Weekly Gay Men’s Space
For the time being Gay Men’s Space will stay weekly on Monday evenings. This will be reviewed over the next 5 months. For now the gay men’s space is funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation but this funding will stop at the end of September. We have already talked about this at the space and all changes will be discussed fully with men at the space before changes are made.
 

African Space on 1st Tuesday of every month
The African Space will become monthly starting in May. African Space will be the first Tuesday of the month. It will be just like the African Space is now.
 

Coffee Morning on 2nd Tuesdays of every month
There will be a new Coffee Morning, run by volunteers on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, starting on the 10th of May. This will be from 10.30 – 12.30 and there will be a crèche. Coffee Mornings are for all people living with HIV. The Coffee Mornings will be run by volunteers and during the Coffee Morning there will be no access to staff, the reception, computers, phone nor emergency payments.
 

Women’s Space on 3rd Tuesday of every month
The Women’s Space will become monthly starting in May. Women’s Space will be the third Tuesday. It will be just like the Women’s Space is now.
 

Health Information Sessions on 4th Tuesday of every month
There will be new monthly Health Information Sessions, on the 4th Tuesday of the month. These will be from 12 noon – 2.30 and open to all people living with HIV. There is no need to book. These sessions will usually be led by George House Trust staff and each month there will be a different topic. There will be a crèche and some food.
 

When there are five Tuesdays in the month there will be no space or other service on the 5th Tuesday.
 

Monthly HIV Workshops - dates and times vary
In addition to the Tuesday services we will also be offering a monthly HIV workshop. There will not be a regular date because our training room is sometimes booked. The Monthly HIV Workshops will last about 3.5 hours. There will not be a crèche but we can help with child care costs if you ask in advance.

The next workshop will be about Disclosure, telling other people about having HIV, on Friday 27th May. We have not set the exact time yet.

You will need to book a place at these workshops in advance - please contact Nathan Perry the George House Trust Health Trainer for more details

Computers and Phone in reception
If you want to use the computers in our reception, please ring and book if you have credit on your phone. If you have not booked and just arrive you will be able to use the computer if one is free.
 

No appointment?
We want to strongly encourage people to always make appointments. The services team will only be able to see people without appointments if it is most urgent.
 

Check the website diary for more details and dates

The website diary has the dates and details of all services until the end of May, and for some services for after this. We will add all the dates and details for the rest of the year to the diary before the end of April. See our services diary  

Tell us what you think

Lynda, our director of services is happy to receive feedback on all aspects of our work and services, please email her It is really important that we have your support and backing - we want to provide the services that you want and need.
 

No Fear in HIV Prevention

posted: 09/11/2010

Using fear as a tool for HIV prevention, like in the 1980s British AIDS tombstone and icebergs campaigns, causes more harm than good, according to a recent review of the evidence.

The idea behind the AIDS tombstones and icebergs was that making people fear death would encourage self preservation by using condoms. Similar fear approaches to HIV prevention were used in the United States, and in Australia (with images of the Grim Reaper).

Following the success of HIV treatments, fear arousing campaigns have picked out some unwanted treatment side effects (for example, facial wasting and diarrhoea).

Attention Grabbing, but does fear work?
Campaigns arousing fear are good at grabbing public attention by using graphic imagery, simplistic language and shocking statements. Fear campaigns are often very memorable.

Recently the use of fear has increased in other health promotion campaigns highlighting the harm from smoking, excess alcohol use, and drug use. The public has great faith in the use of fear to change behaviour.

Frustration
The media, including the gay press, have been calling for more emphasis on harm from sexual risks. The public and campaigners are frustrated at high rates of HIV and STI infection in the UK and the lack of progress in reducing these. That is often behind the calls for what seems to be an ‘obvious solution’.

Does using fear of HIV work?
Would using more fear in HIV prevention work? The role of fear in HIV prevention is written as a guide for gay men’s HIV prevention workers, but many other people, including people with HIV, are very interested in this and have strong views about it. It is an interesting and informative read in four illustrated pages.

It looks at the scientific evidence for whether fear works or not, considers the ideas behind it, and looks into the unforeseen consequences and risks of using fear in HIV campaigns.

Fear is for the Fearless
Fear only works with people who are not frightened by HIV. But 98% of gay men say (in Gay Men’s Sex Survey, 2008) they agree or agree strongly that “HIV is still a very serious medical condition.” So almost every single gay and bi man is already fearful of HIV. Perversely, adding to that fear can make things worse for the men at more risk of HIV.

As Adam Bourne says: “It will remain a constant challenge for those promoting sexual health and well-being to attract the attention of their target audience among the many other advertisements that compete for their attention.

“The temptation is to produce shocking or explicit imagery, which may stand a better chance of being noticed or being remembered.

“However, it is doubtful whether it will actually be successful at influencing behavioural choices.

“Most gay men and other men who have sex with men are already motivated to avoid HIV, but some still lack the knowledge or the power to do so.”

“Inducing fear is not an effective way to promote previous HIV relevant learning or condom use either immediately following the intervention, or later on.

However, HIV counselling and testing can provide an outlet for previous HIV-related anxiety and, subsequently, gains in both knowledge and behaviour change immediately and longitudinally.”

Earl & Albarracin, 2007

Read The role of fear in HIV prevention, Adam Bourne, 2010, Sigma Research Briefing no.1 for the CHAPS gay and bi men’s HIV prevention partnership 
 

Don’t Put Up With HIV Hate

posted: 27/10/2010

HIV hate and abuse are a problem for some people with HIV – but almost no-one complains. Now national charity Citizens Advice are urging people to go to their local bureau and report hate incidents, and hate crimes, whether people saw these or were the target themselves.

A hate incident is when someone is targeted because of their disability, gender identity, race, religion or sexual orientation. Hate incidents include verbal or physical attacks and can happen to anyone. Where the incident is a crime it is known as a hate crime.

HIV hate and abuse - our pages on HIV prejudice and stigma

People can also contact HIV community and other organisations for information, support and advice.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice said:

“We all have the right to live free from violence, harassment or hostility, but over the years, we have seen cases how devastating hate incidents and discrimination can be on individuals, families and the wider community. Hate incidents target people because of who they are.
“We want people to feel able to come in and tell us about any form of discrimination whether experiencing or witnessing hate incidents, and no matter how minor they might seem. Hate incidents are a form of discrimination.”
 

YouTube: Tackle Hate Crime
Advice Week 2010 put the spotlight on discrimination and Citizens Advice Bureaux are raising awareness about hate incidents and how to tackle them. Advice podcasts and a film show possible ways of coping with hate incidents. The tackling hate film clip is here on YouTube. The advice podcast is here 

2 in 3 want help after discrimination
Discrimination is the problem people are least likely to seek help with, says the Working Together for Advice Coalition (Advice Services Alliance, Advice-UK, Age UK, Citizens Advice, Law Centres Federation and Youth Access).
 

One in three people experiencing discrimination do nothing about it. Of these, two thirds say they wanted to act, but felt unable to. The YouTube film highlights people’s new anti-discrimination rights and information about where to seek free support and advice. It shows people who have suffered discrimination and how advice has helped them take action and turn a bad situation round. The film clip is here on YouTube

Four times more hate
People with disabilities (such as HIV) are four times more likely to experience a hate crime than people without disabilities, reports the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
One example
A man with learning disabilities was bullied using online social networks. The person’s private details were published with mobile phone videos. Hundreds of people joined as members to mock and harass him. The local Citizens Advice Bureau worked with the police, the social network site and others to find those responsible, remove the site, support the person and take action against those responsible.
 

England and Wales Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy, said:
“Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales helped with over 28,000 discrimination enquiries last year yet far too many people still aren’t aware of their rights or how to challenge it. Discrimination is a distressing experience, which can leave people feeling isolated and helpless. But Citizens Advice bureaux and other agencies can explain the law and help you take action if you want to. Don’t put up with it. Get advice.”

Source
 

How Much Do You Know?

posted: 16/09/2010

LifeCheck  asks how much do you know about living with HIV? Test your knowledge by completing NAM’s HIV LifeCheck. After you’ve completed it, they’ll show you how to find out more about the things you are unsure of.
 

How does LifeCheck work?
They show you statements which are factually correct. Tell them whether or not you knew that already, or if you are unsure about it.
 

If you are not sure or don't know, they show you how to find out more.

It’s just a simple quiz for you to check if you know all of the up-to-date information about HIV you need.

To start, visit LifeCheck  here and click the button to begin.