Be A HIV Activist
posted: 08/04/2011
A crowd has far more affect than a single voice shouting for change. HIV Activists is a way to join with others to make your voice for better HIV support heard.
With so many cuts and changes affecting so many people with HIV now and over the next few years we need to work with others to make a difference.
HIV Activists Network is run by NAT and it works together with Positively UK, the Stigma Index and of course the Activists themselves.
They use a handy set of online tools to make things simple and easy to join in and help.
What’s next?
They have a list of things they are campaigning about now and you can join in as many or as few as you wish
Here's some of them
- email your MP about the Welfare Reform Bill
- write to your local NHS about HIV prevention and testing
- Sign NAT’s Agenda for Action
- Talk to your local faith leaders
- Talk to your local gay businesses
- Contacting local schools
- emailing your local councillor about cuts to HIV Social Care
- Contact to your Trade Union
If you are interesting in joining the 'HIV Activists Network' or simply want to find out more, you can
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HIV Teenagers to Adults
posted: 21/02/2011
Older teenagers with HIV are our HIV pioneers because they are the first generation of young people growing up with HIV. Being the first at anything is often exciting, but with HIV it can be much less fun and more of a struggle.
Making the change better
The Children and Young People HIV Network are working to make it easier to move from being a teenager with HIV to being an adult with HIV.
Young people with HIV have two main challenges
- growing up from a child to adult with HIV (e.g. beginnning sex and relationships with HIV)
- moving from children's HIV clinic and education, into adult HIV services and employment or claiming benefits with HIV.
The Children and Young People’s HIV Network have now finished checking all the expert articles and books about changing from child to adult with HIV in a ‘literature review’.
They looked to learn lessons about improving the change from child to adult, including learning from experience with other conditions like diabetes and epilespy.
The HIV child to adult change literature review is here
The review
- has statistics about young people with HIV in the UK
- finds existing policies and guidelines for the child to adult change
- looks for useful lessons from other longterm conditions, like diabetes
- considers the needs of carers and family
- considers rural areas with very low numbers of young people with HIV.
Professionals tell us
Last week we pointed out the useful article where HIV health workers describe helping teenagers to make the change from child to adult with HIV, which is in the 200th issue of HIVTreatment Update.
Teens talking life with HIV
Two young people making these changes talk about their own lives. JD Bailey (20, female) talks about growing up with HIV, and Max, (19, male) talks about telling others about HIV
‘Transition of care from a paediatric to adult setting is not specific to HIV … However there are important differences … with HIV which may make this process more difficult’ Lyall, 2007.
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Professionals for HIV Teens to Adults
posted: 21/01/2011
Professionals in the North of England interested in supporting young people with HIV to make the change from childrens to adult services, are invited to regional meetings.
Growing numbers of HIV teens to adults
Many of the children now growing up with HIV are becoming adults and will need to switch to services for adults. Children's and adults' services staff need to think, plan and work together, for a smooth transition between children’s and adult HIV and other services.
Invitation to regional focus group
The Children and Young People HIV Network has arranged focus groups for professionals in the North of England, (and meetings for other regions) to make a start on developing age transition services locally.
The HIV Network invites all children's and adults' professionals (health sector, social care, and community sector) who are, or will, deliver services to 10 – 24 year old young people living with HIV.
This is part of a three-year project to improve the transition of young people living with HIV from children's to adults' services. The project aims to develop capacity by improving partnership working and enabling quality service development, both clinical and social care.
These focus groups will
- find out any current local arrangements for young people living with HIV making the transition from children's to adults' services
- explore the successes and challenges of transition, in different areas, with different numbers of young people, and identify needs
- provide a networking and discussion opportunity for professionals interested in better transitions.
Transitions won't wait
Despite the current upheavals in health, community and social care, young people’s needs for a better transition will not wait. Each area’s professionals need to become involved.
This networking and sharing opportunity will provide professionals with some useful resources on HIV and transition, lunch, and even travel expenses help for some.
Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Birmingham
- For Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire – Manchester, 15 March, 14.00-16.30
- For North, West & South Yorkshire, East Riding, and Lincolnshire – Sheffield, 10 March, 13.30-16.00
- For Tyne and Wear, Co. Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland – Newcastle, 2 March, 10.00-12.30
- For West Midlands, and Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire – Birmingham, 15 March, 12.00-14.30.
Join the group where you would have the most service links. No transition arrangements yet? All the better if you attend.
People working with affected families of HIV-positive adolescents are also welcome, although the focus will be on the transition needs of the HIV+ young people.
Book a place
Please email the Children and Young People HIV Network, telling them which one you would like to attend. All places must be booked in advance so they can book suitable accommodation and cater effectively for all. Live elsewhere? - email the Network for details of meetings in other regions
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Wales Launches HIV Network
posted: 14/09/2010
The NHS in Wales has launched a new network for HIV that is designed to improve support and services across the country. It’s both for people living with HIV in Wales and for service providers, and offers a 'one-stop' site for all news, events, information, guidance and publications related to living with HIV in Wales. It includes a full Service Directory that aims to list all of the services available to HIV+ people in Wales and a section for professionals.
Positive Participation Forums
The network will also support Positive Participation Forums which will be held quarterly across Wales. These forums will provide an opportunity for people living with HIV to channel information, issues and concerns for consideration and response from those working in HIV at a national level. In return, attendees will also learn about the development and delivery of services, strategies and actions relating to HIV in Wales.
People Living with HIV in Wales
The section for people living with HIV is here
The All Wales HIV Network - Cyswllt HIV Cymru Gyfan - website
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facebook - Disability Hate Crime Network
posted: 30/07/2010
People interested in stopping HIV hate and other forms of disability hate crime can join the facebook self-help group.
Fighting HIV and disability hate crime, bullying, abuse, and stigma is a big current issue with a major Inquiry collecting evidence of the problem. You can find out more about the Inquiry and how to tell your story here.
HIV Policy expert Chris Morley of George House Trust was interviewed at length about the hate crime experiences and impacts on people living with HIV, what works in combating HIV stigma as part of this Inquiry. But people's first hand accounts really need to be heard.
Join the facebook Disability Hate Crime Network here.
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