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.
 

Guides for More HIV Testing

posted: 04/04/2011

The number of people who got infected with HIV within the UK in the last 10 years has almost doubled. New infections that happened in the UK (rather than abroad) rose from 1,950 in 2001 to 3,780 in 2010.

In response the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, the body that tells the NHS what healthcare works and is good value for money) has issued new guidance for the testing of the two groups most at risk of getting HIV in the UK, gay/bi men and African people.

HIV testing helps people keep good health

Testing and treating people with HIV helps the person with HIV stay healthy and to live a near-normal life, helps avoid passing on HIV to others, and can save the NHS a lot of money.
 

The NICE guidance aims to increase the numbers taking HIV tests to reduce the number of people who do not know they have HIV and so help prevent HIV being passed on by Africans living in the UK and gay men.

Gay and bisexual men remain the group most at risk of becoming infected with HIV in the UK with 70 per cent more men being diagnosed with HIV in the past 10 years (from 1,810 in 2001 to 3,080 in 2010).
 

‘NAT welcomes the new NICE guidance on increasing testing among African communities and gay men. Not only is the number of people being diagnosed with HIV still too high, late diagnosis is an extremely important problem as it means a person is likely to have had HIV for a number of years – with a high risk of transmission to sexual partners – and it can also reduce the effectiveness of treatment,” commented Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust).

‘It is crucial that HIV testing becomes ‘normalised’ in our society, not just among gay men and African communities, but also amongst health professionals. Many people with HIV attend NHS services for years without being offered an HIV test and this neglect needs to be addressed and stopped.’

'The importance of HIV testing should now be reflected in Government plans as they reorganise the NHS and public health. In particular, it is essential that HIV late diagnosis remain a key outcome indicator to assess progress in public health at the local level. It is also vital that the extensive reorganisation of the NHS does not undermine recent momentum in HIV testing.’
 

‘Public Health England must ensure that the vision for HIV testing amongst gay men and African communities set out in the NICE Guidance is consistently implemented across the whole of the NHS and public health system.’
 

NICE HIV testing guidance for gay/bi men

NICE testing guidance for Africans living in the UK

Source – HPA press release

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Mambo, Health and Africans

posted: 07/03/2011

Mambo 6 is the latest issue of the healthier lifestyle magazine for Africans who are living in the UK. Features in this issue include African and gay  and homophobia in Uganda . There is a look at issues facing HIV positive children  and a new London testing initiative.

Positive Pastor tells Congregation

Pastor Gideon Byamugisha is one of the first African religious leaders talking openly about their HIV positive status, and David Olapoju talks about overcoming tuberculosis.

There is also the latest round up of news from Africa  and you can win a Nokia smartphone  by entering their survey.

Mambo 6 download pdf

New African Peer Support

posted: 03/03/2011

Peer Support, from other Africans living with HIV who are well trained as volunteers, is now offered to Africans with HIV. George House Trust has recruited and trained a carefully selected group to help support others in similar situations.

We've produced a postcard to promote the new African HIV Peer Support Service with posters for HIV clincs and other services. 

African HIV Peer Support means ...

Support from someone who knows what you’re going through.
 

It can really help to talk to someone, in confidence, who’s been in the same situation as you.

There are times when we all need support from someone. Maybe you’ve just been diagnosed HIV positive, are thinking about starting HIV treatments, or are worried about telling other people close to you about your HIV status?

Our African Peer Support Service gives you the chance to meet in a friendly, relaxed and completely confidential place with a fully trained George House Trust volunteer, who is also an African living with HIV in England.
 

They can listen to your worries, share their own experiences, and offer information and support.
 

How to get African Peer Support

If you would like to meet with a African Peer Support Volunteer, please talk with one of our Services team at George House Trust on 0161 274 4499 or email the services team.

Supported by Volunteering Fund for Health and Social Care 
 

New role for African volunteers at George House Trust

posted: 16/12/2010

George House Trust is launching an exciting new peer support service for people living with HIV from African communities. The project is funded by the Volunteering Fund and aims to reduce the stigma and isolation that many people living with HIV from African communities experience. Trained volunteers will offer peer support in a range of settings through sharing their own experiences of living with HIV, providing basic information about HIV and offering emotional support.

We are currently recruiting volunteers for the project and would like to encourage HIV positive people from African communities to apply.

The deadline for applications is Friday 14th January 2011 and we will be delivering our first Peer Support Volunteer Training Course  on the 21st, 24th and 26th January 2011.

If you would like to talk about getting involved as a volunteer, please speak to Laura on 0161 274 5653 or email: volunteering@ght.org.uk

Click here to read the volunteer role description.

Click here to apply to be a volunteer with this project.

You can also download the application form here.