Keep HIV in Focus - Crusaid-THT

posted: 16/06/2010

The chief executive of National AIDS Trust urges a continued focus on HIV welfare, following Crusaid's merger with Terrence Higgins Trust, which was announced on Monday.
Deborah Jack expressed her sadness at seeing Crusaid come to an end after 20 years and voiced her worries for the future, in an interview with the PinkPaper.
 

“My main concern is that we’ve lost a charity solely focused with HIV into an organisation which covers all aspects of sexual health. Crusaid always supported those in the greatest need.

The important thing now is making sure … people [living with HIV] are still given the focus they require. Tensions may arise …. as Crusaid staff are used to working on more specific issues around HIV. I am, however, pleased THT have made a public commitment to continue the hardship fund which provides a valuable lifeline for … people living in poverty with HIV."
 

AIDS Support Grant risks
The merger comes just after Communities Secretary Eric Pickles’ announced that the AIDS Support Grant (ASG) will no longer be ring-fenced. This means that this £25.5 million grant (almost £2 million is for NW England) does not have to be spent on social care for people living with HIV. Deborah Jack believes it is important to hold local authorities to account for how they spend this money, otherwise there could be major repercussions, highlighted in a recent report that NAT produced with Crusaid into the need for the Crusaid HIV hardship fund.
 

“In the report we found that 1 in 6 people being treated for HIV applied for help from Crusaid with an average income of just £42 per week. One of the main problems is that many charities rely on contracts from central or local government and without the [AIDS Support Grant] money it might put lots of the smaller charities supporting people on the ground into financial difficulties. A lot of charities use the money they get from the AIDS Support Grant to provide counselling and peer support for people living with HIV. If this money isn’t being spent [on HIV anymore] then these services will be cut and then people in the greatest need will not have the same emotional support, which may lead to … [people living with HIV] becoming isolated and depressed.”
 

Source PinkPaper

Training for Councils - No Recourse to Public Funds

posted: 21/12/2009

A full day's training for councils on their legal duties to support people and families with ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) is provided by the NRPF Network along with London’s Islington Council. A significant number of migrants with HIV in NW England are subject to the No Recourse to Public Funds rules. Some NW England councils apply the rules very harshly or refuse to even accept they have any legal duty to assess people or help. Other councils do their duty well.

The training

• focuses on good practice in assessing and supporting people with NRPF
• provides an overview of relevant legislation and case-law and
• invites participants to explore other factors to be considered where immigration status impacts on entitlements to services in the UK.

Since April 2009, there have been 17 of these sessions for councils and voluntary sector organisations across the UK and the feedback is very positive.

The full details of the training days are on the NRPF microsite and any requests or enquiries can be made by email

In NW England councils vary widely in how well they perform meet their legal duties towards people with HIV under these rules.  
 

Women Asylum Seekers Charter

posted: 06/11/2009

George House Trust, like many organisations, has enthusiastically endorsed the Charter of rights of women asylum seekers.

By endorsing the Charter George House Trust has committed itself to doing what it can to promote the rights and actions in the Charter.

We will be able to do this through regional/national forums, the Detention Users Group, meetings with accommodation providers, and the staff will also be able to support this through trade union meetings.

Google group sign up
We and other supporters can also join the new Women’s Asylum Charter Google group. Joining the Google group will enable people interested in the campaign in touch with people working on similar issues and help share good practice and monitor progress. This coordination and feedback makes all our efforts more effective.

To join the Google group, please go to http://groups.google.co.uk/group/womens_asylum_charter?hl=en-GB. You will need to create a Google account if you don’t already have one. If you have any difficulties with joining the Google group, please contact charter@asylumaid.org.uk

Own website?
To help promote the Charter it would be great if you could put this link on your website www.asylumaid.org.uk

Direct link to Charter page

Dying with Food Problems

posted: 14/10/2009

Researchers in Canada have found that people taking HIV treatment who experience 'food insecurity' have an increased risk of death. The many destitute people refused asylum or leave to remain in the UK, as well as people on limited benefits and low incomes here, could face the same risk.

Food insecurity means not having enough nutritious food, or having uncertainty about obtaining food. Earlier research amongst injecting drug users taking HIV treatment in San Francisco showed that food-insecure patients were less likely to have an undetectable viral load.

Skinny and Hungry

Now researchers have found that current or former drug users in Vancouver, Canada, who are taking HIV treatment have a 50% increase in the risk of death if they experience food insecurity. The risk was especially high for people who were food insecure and underweight.
They recommend that poor patients in richer countries should receive food supplementation, and that there should be wider efforts to alleviate poverty.
 

More money or a Dietician?

Many HIV clinics in the UK have a specialist dietician who can provide information about diet. Specialist HIV social workers can also help you make sure that you have enough to eat. However the problem is largely one of poverty.
 

The government has just cut the weekly rate for a single asylum seeker over 25 who is destitute and from £42.16 to £35.13 a week from early October. At the same time, benefits for asylum seekers who are lone parents with one child are frozen at £42.16 instead of rising in line with consumer price inflation, leaving them £2 a week worse off.

Diary of an Asylum Seeker with her child scraping by on weekly asylum support from NASS.

There is more information on nutrition in NAM’s information booklet Nutrition. You can download it here.

Our HIV and Immigration Conference

posted: 18/09/2009

George House Trust is holding a one day conference on providing better support to people living with HIV who are subject to immigration controls.
 

Asylum Survivors - inside and outside the system

Frequent changes to asylum law and policy make it difficult to keep up to date and make sure you are offering people the best advice or most effective help. Living with HIV makes dealing with all these issues even more complex.
 

People caught up inside the asylum system are faced with issues such as poor housing, poverty, alienation and fear. Since the “Slough” court ruling people outside the asylum system are facing real destitution.
 

The conference aims to explain the official language and systems, and to provide workers with the information needed to effectively support people living with HIV who are inside and outside the asylum system.
 

There are creative solutions that professionals can offer people. 
 

The Conference is on Friday 4 December at George House Trust in central Manchester. 

Speakers include:

• Hermione McEwen, Senior Solicitor, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit will talk about law in the Asylum System and how it can be used for support people with HIV
• A speaker from ASHA (Asylum Support Housing Advice, Manchester) will deal with Asylum support systems
• Daniel Murphy, Service and Development Manager of George House Trust will focus on the HIV aspects
• Richard Copson, solicitor from Glasiers will talk about the implications of the Slough court ruling

Cost and bookings

Cost is £40 for voluntary sector organisations, and £60 for the statutory sector.
If you would like to come but are unable to pay the fee please contact Daniel

To book a place on this course please email Nathan
For more information, or specific access / disability requirements please email Daniel Murphy or ring 0161 274 4499 and ask for him.
 

The Conference will be at our building in Ardwick - ten minutes walk from Piccadilly station and just two or three stops by bus from the city centre. 77 Ardwick Green North, Manchester, M12 6FX Map

Booking Form - please download and use this