Securing HIV Community’s Future

posted: 10/02/2011

The future for both people with HIV, community and council HIV services is threatened and unstable now because of the government’s responses to the economic situation. Despite the negative outlook, HIV organisations must focus on making the most of what opportunities there are.
 

A new report, Securing Our Future, makes eight action point recommendations for the HIV community sector, based on the views of people with HIV, findings from an online survey, and the views of HIV organisations.

Securing our Future was the work of three London-based HIV organisations - Naz Project London, Positive East and Positively UK (formerly Positively Women), working together as the Counterpoint Policy Alliance.

8 Community Actions

As a result of all the feedback received from the surveys, focus groups and stakeholders, the Counterpoint Policy Alliance identifies eight key action points or recommendations for the HIV charity sector:

1. Maximise the role of people living with HIV working as peers to address their needs and change perceptions about HIV
2. Ensure the sustainability especially of peer-based personal support services (one-to-one, mentoring and support groups), and mental health counselling for people living with HIV and their families
3. Facilitate a process among people living with HIV to build a shared vision of what the HIV charity sector would look like in 5 years, in 2016 
4. Increase innovative sharing and use of peer volunteers across HIV charities
5. Build a unified and strong advocacy voice across HIV charities
6. Initiate a mentoring programme where larger HIV charities are available to assist smaller ones as / if needed, e.g., to understand the changing economic and social environment, and analytical skills to accurately identify what the implications are for the organisation and how best to respond
7. Encourage more partnerships among HIV charities that share back
   office and service delivery functions
8. Explore merger options among HIV charities that avoid homogenisation, and maintain community relationships as well as the ability to target and tailor for specific needs and sub-populations.

As the report tells us “We are moving into an era of radical revamping of the NHS and how health and social care services are provided.

"It is vital that we maximise opportunities to ensure that the needs, views and experiences of people and communities affected by HIV are at the centre of public policy and development.

"In order to achieve this and take forward the above eight recommendations, there will need to be increasing levels of collaboration across the HIV charity sector.”

Securing our Future

Blackburn Cathedral Vigil

posted: 24/11/2010

A candlelit HIV vigil at Blackburn Cathedral is one of the events in East Lancashire organised for World AIDS Day. The cathedral vigil will be on Thursday December 2nd 2010 at 7.15pm. The service is to be led by Canon Andrew Hindley. There will be speakers from Thrivine and music from the Cathedral Choir and Blackburn People’s choir.
 

Buffet and exhibitions in the Crypt

After the service wine and a light buffet will be served downstairs in the Crypt Cafe where you will also have the opportunity to view the exhibition of The Positive Picture, the results of a project funded by the NHS Dragon’s Apprentice. Painted lanterns and art works by local youth groups will also be on display.

Thrivine awards success
This year the East Lancashire HIV charity Thrivine was nominated for a CVS Community Award, and has recently won the Gilead “Putting patients 1st” Award for England and Northern Ireland, for 'Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence, thereby making a significant contribution to the lives of people living with HIV.'
 

Thrivine are very proud of their achievements so soon after their founding and welcome people to attend the vigil and help put an end to HIV related stigma.

More information
email Thrivine

Blackburn Positive Picture Project

posted: 17/06/2010

It does not matter if you are doing really well, or going through a bad time. We all have times when we find it difficult to express our thoughts and feelings in words.

In Blackburn, Thrivine is offering Art Therapy on summer Saturday afternoons.  Art Therapy offers you a way to express and communicate your thoughts and feelings in paints, clay, or other materials.

You do not need to be artistic, or know about art, to benefit.

It is fun and very enjoyable.

Thrivine's Art Therapy - the Positive Picture Project - will be facilitated by qualified people, in a safe space.

If you are infected, or affected by HIV, this could benefit you.

You can choose to come to one or more sessions, or all of the sessions.

Public transport expenses can be reimbursed, should you require.

Positive Picture Project
Saturdays, 2pm to 5pm on these dates

• 17th   July
• 24th   July
• 31st   July
• 7th   August
• 14th   August 
• 21st   August 
• 28th   August 

Where Thrivine will tell you where Positive Picture Project meets after you book, for confidentiality

Book your place     email, or call Adrienne on 07890 147806
Find out more           email, or call Adrienne on 07890 147806
 

Lancashire HIV Activist Dies

posted: 25/05/2010

Lancashire man, Marc Rushton, who campaigned to raise awareness of HIV, and who co-founded the East Lancashire HIV charity THRIVINE, has just died. His funeral will be on Thursday 27 May at St Mary’s Church, Oswaldtwistle, at 10am. 
 

Marc Rushton, 42, was diagnosed with HIV under two years ago. He died peacefully in hospital last Tuesday following a brain haemorrhage. Marc, a businessman, told his story to the Lancashire Telegraph for an article challenging HIV stigma, which appeared last World Aids Day.
 

Ill and fighting stigma
He was already very ill, but was determined to help remove HIV stigma and secure more funding to help people affected. Speaking to the paper last October, he said: “I've had an amazing life so I don't feel sorry for myself. I feel like I've been given this for a reason and I have to talk about it. HIV is massively on the increase in East Lancashire. And it's not just gay people, it's not just drug users, it is heterosexual people.
 

"The UK has the highest rates in Europe. I think half of the stigma around HIV is attached to a lack of understanding. If you don't catch it early enough and if you don't get medicine then it's more likely to become full-blown AIDS. That is why we're stressing to everybody to get tested.”
 

Thrivine founder and treasurer
Marc, of Accrington, was a co-founder, trustee and treasurer of Thrivine, a HIV support group based at Eanam Wharf, Blackburn, which helps people living with HIV in East Lancashire.
 

Adrienne's comments

Adrienne Seed, the chair of Thrivine and a close friend of Marc, praised his bravery and said it was fitting he passed away on the date of their first AGM. She said: “I am sure that Marc chose his moment, that he was with us at that point saying goodbye to us all; to his positive comrades in arms. I know how much Thrivine meant to him and how important it would be to him that we carry on. We always laughed together even when he was going through what to other people would be considered as insurmountable health problems.
 

“Marc had an unfailing optimism that denied how ill he really was. I knew how ill he was but somehow I thought he’d survive. I think he knew in his heart he didn’t have much time. His time may have run out but his legacy will never be forgotten. I will make sure of that.”
 

Donations and funeral

Marc’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church in Oswaldtwistle, at 10am on Thursday, May 27.
 

Donations in memory of Marc can be made to Thrivine c/o Hyndburn Funeral Services, Queen's Road, Accrington.
 

Thrivine

Source

THRIVINE Blackburn Open Day

posted: 12/05/2010

THRIVINE, the HIV community orgnaisation in Blackburn, East Lancashire, will hold an Open Day and celebrate its first year, on Friday May 28th between 2pm and 5pm at its base, Unit 20, Eanam Wharf, Blackburn Business Development Centre, Blackburn, BB1 5PL.

Around 6 months ago THRIVINE moved from the warm embrace of the Jarman Centre to its own place. The move was exciting and challenging with many hurdles and new things to learn.

The Annual General Meeting on 18 May is cancelled