HIV Money for Councils
posted: 21/12/2010
The Government have now said how much each council will receive for HIV social care in the next two years. This used to be paid as 'AIDS Support Grant'.
Increased Grant
Remarkably the funding identified for ‘AIDS Support’ is increased from £25.5 million this year (2010/11) and will rise to £36.2 million by 2014/15.
HIV community organisations worked hard to keep the amount for HIV listed within the overall grant to councils. This will mean people can ask what this HIV funding is really being spent on.
psending Ring-Fence Gone
The bad news is that this HIV money is no longer 'ring-fenced'. This means the council could spend the HIV money on anything. We need local people to help be our eyes and ears and put pressure on councils to spend the cash on HIV and nothing else.
MPs welcome increase
“This is a huge achievement.” said Simon Kirby MP, Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for HIV and AIDS, who pushed for this increase. “With many councils having to make savings of up to 10% this year, there is no doubt that there will be pressure on all services including HIV services. But if councils receive a specific named ‘AIDS Support Grant’ people living with HIV have a good case to argue that the money should be spent on them.”
The All Party Parliamentary Group policy adviser, Veronica Oakeshott, says that HIV campaigners will still have a fight on their hands to ensure the grant “does what it says on the tin.”
Cuts presssure
Because of the cuts to council spending the government announced last week (the maximum 8.9% cut hits Manchester and other councils) there are great financial pressures on local authorities. Councils will be tempted to spend this HIV money on other, more popular services.
We encourage people to tell their local authority to spend all its 'HIV/AIDS Support' allocation on social care for people with HIV.
Tell your councillors what they should be spending on HIV
You can find details of your local councillors using your email address and then send an email at WriteToThem
NW England table showing HIV funding (April 2009 to April 2013) from central government to councils that provide social care services
HIV money for each council for the year April 2011 - April 2012
HIV money for each council for the year April 2012 - April 2013
More information on HIV social care on NAT's website
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