Private Schools HIV Bans

posted: 24/05/2010

Several private / independent schools have refused to hire out their facilities for a summer camp for teenagers with HIV, raising fears of widespread HIV discrimination.
 

The Children's HIV Association (CHIVA) made bookings with the schools, that were later cancelled after the schools were told the young people attending are living with HIV.
The camp, for 100 young people aged 13 to 17, plus 60 volunteers, was arranged for a time when the schools' pupils would have been away. But the charity struggled to find a school that would hire out its facilities.
 

Discrimination evidence 
One head told CHIVA he would not allow his school to be used because parents would not like it. Another, a Christian faith school, agreed to the booking with CHIVA but cancelled after being told of the children's HIV status. The school said it had realised it could not offer CHIVA sole use of the school as it needed. But the charity obtained a number of emails between the head and bursar entitled "health matters", suggesting this was not the real reason for the offer being withdrawn.
And a third school said it could not comply with the charity's request for confidentiality. CHIVA asked that only a couple of key senior staff be informed of who was hiring the school, to protect the identity of the young people who would later be attending.
 

Paddy McMaster, chair of CHIVA and consultant paediatrician at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, said: "Generally, there is discrimination and a lot of misunderstanding about HIV in schools. With the summer camp, it's not possible to prove discrimination but that is the most likely explanation given the sequence of events and the responses we got. What can be perceived by some schools as a justifiable reason for not wanting to include children with HIV is, in fact, discrimination. We want to get across the facts about the risk of transmission so that appropriate decisions are made."
 

George House Trust comment
 

This looks and smells strongly of HIV discrimination, however much these schools pretend it is not. But this is not yet illegal. Schools have clear legal duties not to discriminate against people with disabilities such as pupils and teachers because HIV is a ‘disability.’ Organisations providing services must not discriminate either when providing services to individuals with disabilities.

But the booking was being made not by someone with HIV, but by an organisation. There’s a gap in the law – organisations can’t make a legal complaint about disability discrimination, only individuals. 
 

The schools are on dodgy legal grounds. If the discrimination was against individuals rather than CHIVA, the law says that the service provider has to prove they have not  discriminated. If they tried to do that with the excuses given here, they would lose the case.  

Independent Schools are charities that benefit the small wealthy minority who can afford private education. They take advantage of the tax concessions for charities, but are widely criticised for failing to share those benefits with the wider public whose taxes help fund them. They have been given five years by the Charities Commission to justify their charitable status. This discrimination doesn't help their case.  

Dr McMaster said children with HIV are encouraged not to discuss HIV with other pupils and young people because of the strong stigma attached to it and the unpredictable consequences of sharing this information.
 

This year is the first in which the CHIVA charity has organised a summer camp. "It allows them to be in a community where they can talk freely and see they are not alone," he said. The camp, which is funded by the Elton John Aids Foundation (EJAF), is now due to go ahead in another school. It will include sessions on rights, sexual health and medication.
 

Anne Aslett, executive director of EJAF, said: "It's horrifying to think that school trustees, teachers and even parents in this country might still be so misinformed about HIV/AIDS that HIV-positive children could be stigmatised and discriminated against."
 

How many young people?

The most recent available statistics, from 2009, showed that 1,373 young people were receiving HIV care. Around 350 people under 24 are living with HIV in NW England.
There is no obligation for young people who are HIV positive to inform their schools.
 

Teenagers Summer Camp 
 

Your Rights 

Equalities and Human Rights Commission – duties of education providers
 

Source 
 

Wanted - Positive Youth Camp Leaders

posted: 23/04/2010

Are you HIV+? Are you aged 18 - 24 on August 23 2010? Want to help run the first ever UK summer camp for HIV+ young people?

CHIVA (Childrens HIV Association) is recruiting fifteen Camp Leaders to help run the first ever CHIVA Summer Camp for HIV+ children and young people, in the last week of August 2010.

Along with staff and volunteers, Camp Leaders will help to run the Summer Camp. They will offer support to participants, organise events and activities and keep the camp running smoothly.

Training and Expenses Included
All Camp Leaders will need to attend a four day training session from Thursday 10th - Monday 14th June 2010. Alongside fun activities, Camp Leaders will receive accredited training from Youthforce on the 'Essentials of working with young people'. All expenses will be paid.

Over 25? - volunteer instead
If you are HIV+ and aged 25 or over in late August, consider becoming a CHIVA camp volunteer instead. Visit the Summer Camp webpage and download volunteering details and an application form - righthand column of web page.

Becoming a Camp Leader - apply before 30 April
For more information download the information pack and application form. The application form must be completed and returned by 5pm April 30 2010.

If you know or work with HIV+ young people please print off the advert about becoming a Camp Leader and pass this on to them.

If you would like any more information about being a Camp Leader please email Tom Burke.
 

Wanted - Positive Youth Camp Leaders

posted: 18/03/2010

Are you HIV+? Are you aged 18 - 24 on August 23 2010? Want to help run the first ever UK summer camp for HIV+ young people?

CHIVA (Childrens HIV Association) is recruiting fifteen Camp Leaders to help run the first ever CHIVA Summer Camp for HIV+ children and young people, in the last week of August 2010.

Along with staff and volunteers, Camp Leaders will help to run the Summer Camp. They will offer support to participants, organise events and activities and keep the camp running smoothly.

Training and Expenses Included
All Camp Leaders will need to attend a four day training session from Thursday 10th - Monday 14th June 2010. Alongside fun activities, Camp Leaders will receive accredited training from Youthforce on the 'Essentials of working with young people'. All expenses will be paid.

 

Over 25? - volunteer instead

If you are HIV+ and aged 25 or over in late August, consider becoming a CHIVA camp volunteer instead. Visit the Summer Camp webpage and download volunteering details and an application form - righthand column of web page.
 

Becoming a Camp Leader - apply before 30 April

For more information download the information pack and application form. The application form must be completed and returned by 5pm April 30 2010.

If you know or work with HIV+ young people please print off the advert about becoming a Camp Leader and pass this on to them.

If you would like any more information about being a Camp Leader please email Tom Burke.