George House Trust Podcast #1
posted: 14/07/2011
George House Trust has produced its first podcast which is now available to view online through any mobile device with an internet connection.
Click here to view our podcast
In this webisode Chief Executive Rosie Robinson and Vice Chair David Teasdale talk about the recent effects the current economic climate has had on GHT and explain the subsequent changes GHT has made to both the staffing structure and the services which it provides. Rosie and David also explain the process involved in making those decisions.
The podcast was produced using the existing skills of the staff team and will hopefully be a regular and effective way of communicating to our service users, volunteers and supporters.
We hope to bring you more podcasts in the future so watch this space.
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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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Rise for HIV in Spending Review
posted: 09/11/2010
The Government has commited itself in the recent Spending Review to include specific amounts for HIV social care needs within the local authority grant for the next five years. Remarkably the funding identified for ‘AIDS Support’ is increased from £25.5 million this year to £36.2 million by 2014/15.
George House Trust and other HIV organisations have been in a campaign over the last few months lead by NAT (National AIDS Trust), to persuade the government to at least specify an amount for HIV within local authority budgets.
Following the Spending Review all the grants for special needs – including the AIDS Support Grant – are absorbed into the block grant given to councils, known as the Formula Grant.
However, the government says it will tell councils how much of their Formula Grant is for HIV. These are the figures.
Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT, says:
‘NAT is extremely pleased to see a commitment from the Government to increase funding for HIV social care following our recent campaign. This commitment shows an acknowledgment of the importance of funding these services, and recognition that the rising numbers and ageing population of people living with HIV will result in both continuing and increasing social care needs within this group.
‘However, we do remain concerned that with the removal of the ring-fence around this funding and the increased emphasis on local flexibility, there is a risk that HIV social care funds could be spent elsewhere. NAT encourages all local authorities to ensure the needs of people living with HIV in every area are met, and this means using the funding committed to HIV social care to provide the services necessary.’
Further information (including the figures above) are in a
letter on Local Government and the Spending Review from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
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