News: 10/2024 | Page 8 | George House Trust

 

OUR SUPPORT GOES MUCH FURTHER WITH YOUR SUPPORT

 

Like many - if not all - charities across the UK, we are experiencing an unprecedented impact on our income; particularly that income which is generated through community fundraising events.

 

Ever since we were founded in 1985, in response to the emergence of a new virus, we have relied on donations and fundraising income to support our core work.  The funding we receive from local authorities to provide one-to-one advice & support and the income for projects like our Better Together peer mentoring does not cover all our costs.

 

These costs include, for example, reimbursing travel expenses for our volunteers to support staff in our office; covering the cost of fuel when volunteers drive service users with limited mobility to appointments; purchasing materials to improve the recruitment experience of new volunteers.

 

We do not receive any specific funding to cover the cost of t-shirts or the printing of general awareness-raising material - all of which is vital in helping us, and our key messages, to be visible and, more importantly, to educate the public about HIV and HIV stigma.  This is one of our governing objectives, one of which we cannot ever lose sight.

 

It is also true of course that we need to maintain a safe, clean and welcoming space in order to provide our one-to-one support and group events.  We rely on donations, community fundraising and other income to help us do this.  The hire of our ground floor training room to external organisations brings us income which also supports our work.  However, all bookings which were made before the current crisis have now been cancelled.  We do not know when we will be able to take bookings again.

 

These are challenging times for everyone and we understand that, for many, fundraising priorities have changed.  However, despite the difficulties that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented, we continue to work hard to ensure that people living with HIV - in Greater Manchester and beyond - receive the very best support, advice and information.

 

THANK YOU

 

Thank you to our regular donors, fundraisers, supporters and friends.  We know that many of you, local businesses and individuals, are facing significant challenges yourselves at this time.  We are so grateful that so many of you have loyally supported us all these years with love, creativity, originality, and, on many more than one occasion, fabulous flamboyance.

 

Many thanks to our patron Russell T Davies for making this short video

 

Please do help us to continue to do what we do well and give what you can.  Our support goes much further with your support.

 

Text GHT plus the amount you wish to donate, e.g. 5, 10, 20 or any other amount to 70085.

 

GHT 5 to 70085 to give £5

GHT 10 to 70085 to give £10

GHT 20 to 70085 to give £20

 

The legal bit is that texts cost your donation amount plus the cost of a standard text message.

 

After you have made a donation, you will receive a follow up text asking if you would like to add Gift Aid to your donation.  Please add Gift Aid - you will increase the value of your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you.  For example a £10.00 donation will be worth £12.50

 

 

Monday, 4 May, 2020

COVID-19 & HIV - FAQs

INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY BHIVA 19 MARCH 2020

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that can infect mammals and birds. Seven strains can infect humans, typically causing mild illness (1 in 6 cases of the common cold are caused by coronaviruses) and more rarely serious illness.

 

There are currently no coronavirus vaccines or antiviral drugs but research teams across the globe are working tirelessly to change that. There have been headlines about using the HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir (uncommonly used for treatment in the UK) to treat coronavirus but no good evidence yet that it will work. The drugs used for PrEP are not active against coronavirus.

 

COVID-19 is a new condition caused by the SARS-CoV-2 strain of the coronavirus, which spreads very easily from person-to-person (much more so than some other types of coronavirus). Nobody has existing immunity to it. Although the estimated death rate of about 1 in 100 people sounds low compared to some infections, if very large numbers of people are infected that would result in a high number of deaths. Current data suggests that 1 in 5 people develop more severe illness, and large numbers needing hospital treatment could rapidly overwhelm health care systems - this is happening in Italy now. People most at risk of serious illness and death are the elderly and people with long-term medical conditions such as lung disease, kidney disease and diabetes.

 

However, about 80% of people with COVID-19 have relatively mild illness, which can lead to diagnosis of infection being delayed or missed altogether, which increases the risk of passing the virus on. Data from Japan estimates 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms – making control even harder.

 

In February the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern' – giving WHO the legal right to make recommendations about dealing with it and (hopefully) stimulating funding and Government action. On 11th March 2020 WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, which is an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting large numbers of people.

 

BHIVA have issued answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Thursday, 19 March, 2020

 

CORONAVIRUS: IMPACT ON OUR SERVICES

 

UPDATED 18 MARCH 2020

 

Due to the ongoing situation with regards to the coronavirus outbreak the George House Trust building will be closed with effect from Friday March 20th until further notice.

 

We are taking this course of action reluctantly - but we hope that you will agree that, in the circumstances, it is the most sensible thing to do.

 

This means that we need to make changes to working arrangements which will have a significant impact on the services we can provide.

 

Staff will be working from home and will be able to provide one to one support by phone. Similarly, our volunteer peer mentors will provide telephone support and the programme remains open for referrals.

 

From 9am on Friday March 20th, if you are in need of support, advice or information and would like to speak to someone please email talk@ght.org.uk and include your telephone number in your message and we will call you back.

 

We cannot provide the following services until further notice:

 

  • Group events
  • Counselling
  • Volunteer Driving
  • Manchester City Council Welfare Rights appointments
  • Welfare Fund applications

 

Arrangements are also in place to continue to provide:

 

  • Formula Milk
  • Support for people who are destitute

 

We are keeping up to date with any new information about coronavirus and HIV which we will publish on the George House Trust website www.ght.org.uk and our social media platforms.

 

We want to assure you that we will continue to provide the very best services we possibly can in these challenging circumstances – but we also need to be clear that the same levels of support we normally provide simply won’t be possible at this time.

 

We are keeping the situation under constant review and we will update this page when there are any planned changes to these arrangements.

 

We look forward to being able to resume normal service again soon.

Wednesday, 18 March, 2020

Comment from the British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) on UK Government Guidance on Social Distancing to Protect Vulnerable Adults, published 16 March 2020

 

Tuesday 17 March 2020

 

The British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) have received a number of enquiries about the UK Government's Guidance that "members of the public with serious health conditions will soon be asked to self-isolate for 12 weeks." This is defined in the Guidance as "anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds" which includes anyone living with HIV.

 

Whilst there is no evidence so far to determine whether people with HIV are at greater risk of COVID-19 acquisition or severe disease the new advice reflects the lack of evidence by classifying all people with HIV as vulnerable.

 

The Guidance from Public Health England (PHE) on Social Distancing for Vulnerable Groups, including people with HIV is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults. The general advice in this does not go as far as to recommend self-isolation for all at risk, nor does it specify a duration of time for the self-isolation.

 

More detail is expected soon and this may include specific advice for people living with HIV based on viral load and CD4 count, as people on HIV treatment with a good CD4 and undetectable viral load are not usually considered to have a "weakened immune system" as specified in the PHE guidance. BHIVA and THT will aim to inform the HIV community about new developments in the field as they emerge but right now we recommend following PHE’s "social distancing" advice which does not necessarily mean "self-isolation."

 

For further information, please contact Jo Josh on +44 (0) 7787 530922 or jo@commsbiz.com

 

Read online

 

 

Tuesday, 17 March, 2020

 

ATTENTION: UPDATED 25th MARCH

 

The British HIV Association (BHIVA) updated a statement on the virus and HIV on the 25th March. You can read the statement on the BHIVA website – www.bhiva.org

 

The latest updates include

 

BHIVA statement on management of a pregnant woman living with HIV and infant testing during Coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

British HIV Association (BHIVA) and Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) statement on COVID-19 and advice for the extremely vulnerable

 

Wednesday, 18 March, 2020

POSITIVELY SPEAKING

 

POSTIVELY SPEAKING

 

Could you tell your own story to raise awareness of the facts of living with HIV?

 

A very exciting opportunity has arisen to join our ‘Positively Speaking’ Project.  We are seeking applications from people living with HIV who are prepared to talk about their experiences of living with HIV.

 

You will attend training, delivered at George House Trust, where you will be supported to develop your own unique story in preparation for sharing your experiences with different groups of people.  Some examples of groups we have worked with so far are school children and young people, medical professionals and professional networks.

 

As a Positive Speaker you will play a vital role in raising awareness of HIV and challenging HIV-related stigma.  George House Trust is commited to ensuring that the Undetectable = Untransmittable message reaches and is understood by the widest possible audience.  We need your help to spread this message.  This volunteer role is flexible so can work around your other commitments.

 

Interested?  Contact Rachel for more information and how to apply.

Sunday, 27 October, 2019

 

10TH INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY RESEARCH

 

Recent research, published at the 10th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science, reports a marked decline in extensive resistance to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The study was undertaken in the United States and attributes the change to the availability of potent new drugs.

 

You can read the full article here

Tuesday, 6 August, 2019

 

PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (PHE) HAS PUBLISHED 2018 HIV DATA

 

The PHE Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles has also been updated this morning. The profiles present epidemiological data about new HIV diagnoses and people receiving HIV care at national, regional and local levels and are based on place of residence. The profiles include existing indicators and seven new indicators including ART initiation and viral suppression.

 

PHE will publish the annual HIV report in mid-November; this report will contain a more detailed picture of HIV in the UK and will combine modelled estimates of undiagnosed HIV infection and incidence together with public health commentary and recommendations.

 

Below is a summary of data from a perspective on Greater Manchester:

 

Manchester has seen a decline in new diagnosis with 112 new HIV diagnosis in 2018 compared to 124 in 2017 and 136 in 2016. This is nearly a 10% decrease since previous year and 32% since 2014.

 

Greater Manchester diagnosis fell from 289 in 2017 to 253 in 2018 12.45% decline.

 

The Greaeter Manchester picture is mixed with falls in 7 LAs and 2 increases with Salford having the same number (40) Bury diagnosis increased from 10 to 18 and Tameside from 14 to 21 whilst Oldham fell from 18 to 8 and Wigan 20 down to 12.

 

The new diagnosis rate per 100,00 aged +15 in Manchester in 2018 was 25.3 compared to 28.1 previous year. 2014 was 38.7.

 

Greater Manchester fell from 12.8 to 11.2. England fell from 9.4 to 8.8

 

in 2018 75.6% of Manchester residents diagnosed with HIV in commenced antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 90 days of diagnosis.

 

Greater Manchester 75.7 and England 79.1

 

Big variations across Greater Manchester with Rochdale at 50.0, Bury 57.5, Wigan 88.9, Bolton 83.1

 

97.3% or people accessing HIV treatment and care in Manchester are virally suppressed and have an undetectable viral load (Greater Manchester 97.4, England 97.2 NW 97.1)

 

Manchester's diagnosed prevalence rate in 2018 was 6.21 this compares to 6.19 in 2017 (GM 3.05)

 

Only 3 GM areas have a rate below 2 (Wigan, Oldham and Stockport)

 

Bury Tameside and Trafford have new rates above 2.0 having previously been below.

Tuesday, 3 September, 2019

 

THE GREATER MANCHESTER UK AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT TRAIL

 

Inspired by the 2019 Global World AIDS Day theme ‘Communities make the Difference’, we are delighted and proud to announce an exhibition of panels from the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt in locations across Greater Manchester in the run up to World AIDS Day, December 1st 2019.

 

The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt is a unique and powerful historical and social artefact and an irreplaceable piece of HIV history. It tells the stories of people lost to the virus in the early days of the HIV epidemic in the UK. Loved ones are honoured and remembered in panels made by partners, friends and families. This is the first time any of the Quilt panels have been exhibited in Greater Manchester since 2007.

 

The Greater Manchester UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Trail will run from 25th November until 1st December at various venues.  A launch event will take place at HOME, Manchester on 25th November at 6.30pm.

 

VENUES

 

Each venue will display a panel from the Quilt.  Each panel measures 12 foot x 12 foot (3.6m x 3.6m)

 

 

WORLD AIDS DAY

 

Since the virus was identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV-related illnesses. Nearly 37 million people are living with HIV today with over 101,000 of those in the UK.

 

Despite huge medical advances in treatment, HIV remains a highly stigmatised medical condition. World AIDS Day is an opportunity to remember those lost to HIV globally, to raise awareness and to educate people about HIV today.

 

Neal Sharpe, Joint Interim Executive Director, George House Trust, says:

 

"We believe that the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt can be used as a key resource to raise levels of awareness about HIV. By personalising those who have died from HIV related illnesses and by presenting information about people living with HIV today, we hope to break down barriers and challenge the stigma that still affects the lives of many people living with HIV.”

 

The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Trail leads up to the Greater Manchester World AIDS Day Vigil which takes place on Sunday 1st December at 6pm in Sackville Gardens, the site of the Beacon of Hope, Manchester’s memorial to those lost to HIV/AIDS.

 

George House Trust is coordinating and delivering the Greater Manchester UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Trail for the PaSH (Passionate about Sexual Health) Partnership as part of Greater Manchester’s World AIDS commemorations.

 

The PaSH Partnership is a collaboration between George House Trust, BHA for Equality and LGBT Foundation.

Thursday, 31 October, 2019

CATWALK FOR POWER

 

‘THE CATWALK FOR POWER, RESISTANCE, AND HOPE’

 

We are excited to be working with Positively UK to launch Manchester’s very first ‘Catwalk4Power’.

 

The event is organised by women living with HIV and aims to raise awareness of the issues faced by women living with the virus.  There will be a series of workshops that aim to empower participants and the project will culminate in a Catwalk where women can showcase their talent and beauty.

 

Join us on Saturday 28th September, 1pm at George House Trust for an information session run by Mel and Neo from Positively UK where you can find out more about the project.

 

The first workshop is scheduled to run on Saturday 5th October, 10.00am – 3.30pm at George House Trust.  We can reimburse travel expenses, lunch will be provided and we can subsidise childcare.

 

If you have any questions, email Joshua or call 0161 274 4499.

Friday, 13 September, 2019

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Living with HIV? Want to talk to us?
Call 0161 274 4499 or email: talk@ght.org.uk