All Saint's Musical Productions perform Rent at The Lowry

posted: 08/02/2012

A musical production at the Lowry aims to donate some of their proceeds to helping people living with HIV at George House Trust.  RENT by the All Saints Musical Productions will be at the The Quays Theatre from Tuesday 1st – Saturday 5th May 2012.
 

This extraordinary rock musical tells the heart-breaking yet optimistic story of a group of artistic friends that struggle to survive whilst living with debt, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.  There is a rollercoaster of emotions where controversial issues are taken head-on and dealt with openly and without judgement, offering a gritty and intimate snapshot of 1990’s New York. 

Featuring ‘Seasons of Love’ and a tribute to La boheme, the Puccini opera on which it is based, RENT is a musical like no other that will both move and inspire you.

Tickets can be purchased here and are £12 & £15 if you buy 10 then you get the 10th ticket free.

Further information about the All Saints Musical Productions can be found here
 

People’s Guide to Police HIV Investigations

posted: 11/05/2011

NAT (National AIDS Trust) have just produced a guide for people living with HIV about how the police should investigate any complaints about HIV being passed on. The Police now have their own detailed guidance for doing these investigations.

This plain English leaflet is for people with HIV and it gives the key points and answers people’s common questions. It does not deal with Scotland where the law and legal system is different, so the guide is just for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Prosecutions are rare

Police investigations into reckless HIV transmission are uncommon. In 2009 around 6500 people found out they had got HIV but few people complain to the police about someone infecting them recklessly, and there was only one prosecution in 2010 and none at all in 2009.

Answers to common questions

The leaflet answers these common questions:

• What should I do if someone goes to the police (or threatens to) accusing me of giving them HIV?
• How much will the police know about HIV?
• Should the police investigate if the person complaining does not have HIV?
• When will police end the investigation?
• Will the police keep my HIV status confidential?
• Can the police see my medical records?
• Should the police comment to the media?
• What if the person accused is under 18?

Expert Guidance for Police and Prosecutors

The police now have their own national guidance to follow when investigating these unusual, complex and sensitive cases. The Crown Prosecution Service also has a guide about prosecuting these cases.

HIV organisations like NAT, George House Trust and Terrence Higgins Trust have worked hard with police and prosecutors to produce these guides to reduce as far as possible problems for people with HIV who may be accused.

The police guidance makes plain that all allegations should:

• be fairly investigated
• not be begun or continued if a successful prosecution is not considered realistic
• respect the dignity and confidentiality of people with and affected by HIV.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has approved ‘Investigation Guidance relating to the Criminal Transmission of HIV’ for the police.
This sets the standard for police investigations. Police will find the guidance very helpful; it is available on the national police information and training website ‘POLKA.’ The public can find a public copy on the NAT website.
 

Accused? Remember:

If you are accused of reckless or intentional HIV transmission, get immediate advice from a HIV voluntary organisation with experience in HIV prosecutions, or ring THT Direct (0845 12 21 200)

• Get legal advice when the police start to investigate
• Make sure the police know about and use the ACPO Investigation Guidance
• Get advice and support from a HIV voluntary organisation with experience in dealing with HIV prosecutions.

 NAT Guide for people living with HIV on police investigations is at the bottom of this page.

DLA to PIP Benefit Plans

posted: 10/05/2011

The benefit called Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be replaced from 2013 - 14 with a new benefit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The government has just published their detailed proposals for how this new benefit will be assessed and asks for public comments.

Disability Living Allowance some people with HIV now recieve comes in two flavours - the care component (with 3 rates of payment), and the mobility component (with 2 rates of payment). The top rate of the mobility component is converted by many people into a leased car from Motability.
 

The government intends to cut 20% from the benefits bill when they make the change from DLA to PIP, so the rules for Personal Independence Payment are tougher than the DLA rules, so PIP will go to people ‘with the greatest need’. This means some people will no longer get the benefit or will get less than now.
 

Most people get DLA after simply filling in a claim form. Everyone getting PIP will face a medical assessment as well as filling in a claim form.

Most people will want something simple to read and understand. The Disability Alliance has a useful factsheet page which is kept updated.

The official explanation and consultation documents

Comments by 6 June

The deadline for public comments on these proposals is 6 June. Leading HIV organisations will be making comments on these proposals.

Hardest Hit March - Wednesday

posted: 09/05/2011

1 in 6 people living with HIV have lived in severe poverty in the past three years. On Wednesday 11th May there is a national march in London and mass lobby of MPs at the House of Commons to protest against the government's planned cuts and changes to benefits.

The cuts and benefit changes will make matters worse for the many people living with HIV who rely on Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Employment Support Allowance.
 

National march and lobby of MPs

People from across the country are coming together on May 11th in London to protest against these cuts and changes and to the cuts to local services which provide key services for people living with disabilities including HIV.
 

People with HIV will be joining the march and lobbying of MPs and if you'd like to be part of this and walk alongside the THT and NAT and other banners, you can find out where and when to meet up by contacting Guy Slade at THT (020 7812 1631). Also register and find out more details on the Hardest Hit website.

Once you've registered, you can email your MP to ask to meet with them as part of the lobby at the House of Commons after the march.

If you arrange a meeting, tell THT, who can advise on what you could say to your MP and ask for.
 

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.