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

Future Jobs Fund Admin Assistant Placement at GHT

posted: 05/01/2011

George House Trust is launching a Future Jobs Fund Placement for an Administrative Assistant, to start in February 2011.

The placement will involve providing administrative support to our Volunteer & Development Manager and helping with administration for training and events.

This is an exciting role which will offer you:

• An insight into a career in the voluntary sector or in volunteer management
• Opportunities to develop skills and experience in volunteer management, training administration and event organisation
• The chance to work as part of the leading HIV Social Care Charity in the North West with a national reputation for excellence.
   

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person who is interested in making a real difference to the lives of people living with and affected by HIV.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be aged 18-24 and have been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for at least 6 months. This role is paid at the National Minimum Wage.

If you are interested in this role, please speak to your Job Centre Plus Advisor as soon as possible, quoting Future Jobs Fund reference: MS MAN 9192. Interviews will be held on Friday 14th January 2011.
 

Quick HIV Needs Conference

posted: 10/11/2009

A half day HIV conference in London just before World AIDS Day will attempt to answer the question - What do people living with HIV need now?

Hestia Housing & Support are putting on a free conference around HIV services and what people living with HIV need now. Councils are increasingly mainstreaming the provision of HIV services. Is this the right way forward? What should be the future of HIV services in England?

Looking at this from professional and service user perspectives, the conference covers

• The housing needs of people living with HIV
• Future commissioning possibilities in HIV social care
• Financial needs of people living with HIV and the trends of applications to hardship funds
• What women with HIV need
• A Service Users perspective

The conference is for commissioners, workers and all those interested in the future of HIV services.
 

Conference Programme for 27 November

Speakers
The speakers are

• Neil Gerrard, MP - Labour MP for Walthamstow & Former Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on AIDS
• Peter Weatherburn - Director, Sigma Research (What do You Need? and Framework for Better Living with HIV in England - 2009)
• Kwesi Adabunu - Commissioning Officer, Greenwich Adults and Older Peoples' Services
• Nicola Jacobs - Policy Officer, The National AIDS Trust
• Ian Leckie - Programmes Manager, Crusaid
• Elisabeth Crafer - Director, Positively Women

Book your place online  or by email