Training - No Recourse to Public Funds

posted: 20/05/2011

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) Training will be provided in Manchester on Tuesday 7th June (10am – 4.30pm) for Local Authority representatives with responsibilities for people with NRPF.

There will be NRPF training specifically for the voluntary sector in London, on 10th June. Details about Voluntary Sector NRPF Training are here

Voluntary sector people are also welcome at the Manchester training but in Manchester the training focuses on social services assessments.

This training is provided by the No Recourse to Public Funds network.

Limited places available

The cost of the training is £125 per person and will take place at Manchester City Council. Limited places are available. To book a place, please complete the booking form and return it to No Recourse to Public Funds at Islington. The training terms and conditions are here.

The Manchester training for local authority workers covers key issues, legislation and social services assessments, for adults, children and families, and includes human rights obligations.
 

• No recourse to public funds - introduction and overview
• Key legislation
• Assessing eligibility for support
• General considerations in assessments of need - adults, children and families, human rights
• Community care and community mental health assessments
• Child in need and human rights assessments
• Good practice in assessing and supporting people with NRPF
• National NRPF Network and the policy context of NRPF
• Case studies

Booking Form

Terms and Conditions

Enquiries and bookings to nrpf@islington.gov.uk

More information on the No Recourse to Public Funds training programme for Local Authorities

More information on the No Recourse to Public Funds training programme for Voluntary Sector

More information on No Recourse to Public Funds from the network

More information on No Recourse to Public Funds from UK Border Agency
 

African Film Against Stigma

posted: 11/05/2011

No Blame, No Shame is an epic new HIV health promotion film from the African Health Policy Network (AHPN). The film tackles the taboos and stigma surrounding HIV infection in UK’s African community. No Blame, No Shame features top comedian Gina Yashere, alongside HIV positive UK Africans, in a film made by Angus Malcolm.
 

No Stigma in living with HIV

No Blame, No Shame is an online video that is also available as a DVD, promoting the African Health Policy Network’s Public Faces  campaign, that there is no stigma in living with HIV and that stigmatising attitudes only help spread HIV.
 

Watch No Blame, No Shame here
 

Eunice Sinyemu, Head of Policy and Deputy Chief Executive at AHPN says “We have to challenge the stigma around HIV in the UK's African communities. It stops individuals from getting tested, which means they don’t get the treatment they need, and are more likely to infect others. With Gina’s help, we are confident we can get this message across in a colourful, punchy and accessible way.”
“Gina is much-loved in the African community, and having a big name on board is really going to help us reach our audience.”

Wide distribution

AHPN is promoting the film to reach as many people in the African community as possible, including viral marketing and distribution on DVD, use in training for a wide range of specialists and professionals, faith leaders and communities, local and national policy makers, workers in the health and social care sectors, local and national media.

Read about the comedian Gina Yashere

The film was made by Angus Malcolm, writer and producer. With a background in healthcare, including several years in the AIDS Unit at the Department of Health, Angus specialises in producing low-cost media for the statutory and not-for-profit sectors, especially education and healthcare.

No Blame, No Shame
 

HIV and Africans in the UK

posted: 11/05/2011

HIV & UK African Communities is a brand new guide to the key issues affecting black African communities in the UK. It contains personal stories and a directory of services as well as sections dealing with the key issues.

Produced by NAM it is available free online or as a book for just under £25.
 

It covers the key topics

• facts and figures about black Africans living in the UK
• about HIV among Africans here
• the needs of Africans living with HIV
• mental health
• faith
• stigma and discrimination
• telling others
• HIV prevention, testing, diagnosis and treatment
• women
• men
• men who have sex with men
• children and families
• young people
• carers
• older adults
• gender-based violence
• rights to healthcare
• immigration and asylum
• prosecutions.

HIV & UK African Communities: the key issues
 

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.