News: 12/2024 | George House Trust

 

Accessing hair and beauty is everyone’s right

 

On World AIDS Day 2024, George House Trust launch the UK’s first HIV and Beauty guide for professionals working in the hair and beauty industries.

 

Understanding HIV A guide for hair and beauty professionals [PDF] is a collaboration between George House Trust and top beauty industry expert and educator, Sam Marshall.

 

It is designed to empower hair and beauty professionals to become fully HIV-inclusive businesses. It provides up-to-date HIV facts and science with best practice guidelines to support and educate hair and beauty practitioners about HIV and how to eliminate HIV discrimination in hair and beauty settings.

 

By raising awareness of the facts around HIV, this guide aims to end discrimination within the beauty, hair and barbering industry and to help reduce HIV stigma in wider society.

 

Darren Knight, Chief Executive of George House Trust said:

 

“We are proud to partner with Sam Marshall to develop this important guide for the beauty industry. Someone’s HIV status must never be a barrier to accessing beauty services.

We want to support the beauty industry to improve understanding around HIV and provide an effective toolkit for the whole industry. We found from our research that 52% of people have been refused a treatment due to their HIV status and this shows there is still unnecessary and unacceptable stigma attached to living with HIV, and a lack of awareness around the advances in treatment and what that means for people living with HIV.

We hope that by launching this HIV and Beauty Guide, we will bring the issue to the forefront, across this sector and beyond.”

 

Sam Marshall, The Beauty Guru said:

 

“I’m delighted to have spearheaded the UK’s first HIV Beauty Guide alongside George House Trust. It will help us move towards a more inclusive industry, something I’m extremely passionate about.

I implore all beauty professionals to put the guide into practice, in particular removing the HIV status questionnaire from the consultation process. Beauty practitioners do not need to know someone’s HIV status to undertake beauty, hair, or cosmetic procedures, even those that produce blood or are considered invasive.

Thanks to effective treatment, people living with HIV cannot pass it on. Additionally, universal hygiene protocols (which should be standard practice in any professional salon) will eliminate the risk of any blood-borne virus being transmitted.

As an inclusive beauty salon, we would never ask clients for their status as it is irrelevant and unnecessary. Beauty is for everyone and we believe that everyone who wants to access beauty services should feel comfortable in doing so.”

 

Download the guide [PDF].

 

Find out more about our HIV and Beauty work.

 

Sunday, 1 December, 2024

World AIDS Day 2024

 

World AIDS Day 2024

World AIDS Day is Sunday 1 December, it gives us all an opportunity to come together those we have lost, and stand in solidarity with people around the world who are living with HIV. Read on to find out what we and our partners are doing to mark World AIDS Day 2024.

 

A message from our Chief Exec, Darren Knight

 

World AIDS Day on the 1st December gives us all at George House Trust the chance to shine a light on something that not a lot of people think about every day. It is a day to remember those lost, reflect on the challenges people living with HIV still face, educate everyone on the facts and challenge myths and celebrate how far we’ve come.

 

This year the focus for World AIDS Day is ‘Take the rights path’, encouraging everyone to work together to tackle the inequalities that exist globally and locally and take action, ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has the right to quality healthcare services.

 

World AIDS Day also gives us the opportunity to make our own contribution. You may choose to wear the red ribbon with pride, you may be volunteering or you may tell people the facts about HIV; you may be doing all of that and more. You may spend time thinking about the massive strides made in treatment, the positive change in attitudes or you may be thinking about a friend or loved one lost. It may be a day where you think about your own situation; it may be tough for you and we understand that. Myself and the team at George House Trust want you to know that whatever happens for you on World AIDS Day, we’re always here for you. Whatever you’re doing, thank you.

 

If you're able to join us at the national vigil with our partners and the British HIV Association in Sackville Gardens, Manchester at 6pm on Sunday 1st December, I'll see you there. Or you may well be attending an event that’s nearer to where you live, or at home with your own candle and thoughts. Wherever you are, rest assured that whatever you’re doing to mark World AIDS Day 2024, we’re all together with you in solidarity.

 

Best wishes,

Darren

 

 

What's on in Greater Manchester

All week our PaSH partners, BHA for Equality and LGBT Foundation have been talking to people across Greater Manchester, testing for HIV and STIs, and providing information about HIV and raising awareness in many different communities. Many of our Positive Speakers have also been sharing their stories of their own experience of HIV at events and educational talks - thank you!

 

This year, all the George House Trust staff team are out and about across Manchester supporting our fundraising volunteers, if you see us in Piccadilly or Victoria Station, or other venues across the city please say hello!

 

We’ll all be meeting at 6pm for the PaSH annual World Aid’s Day Vigil. Join us to remember people we have lost, show our solidarity with people living with HIV around the world and commit ourselves to ending HIV stigma and discrimination.

 

Manchester Vigil in partnership with the British HIV Association

6-7pm Sunday 1 December

Sackville Gardens
Sackville Street
Manchester
M1 3WA

Find out more.

 

What's on in Liverpool

Everyone is welcome to join our friends at Sahir House in remembering those loved and lost to HIV. If you live in Liverpool, please just turn up to vigil, registration is not needed.

Liverpool Vigil

1-2pm Sunday 1 December

Liverpool Parish Church

Chapel Street

L2 8TZ

Find out more.

 

Liverpool Fundraiser for George House Trust

The Albert, Lark Lane in Liverpool are hosting an open mic night and fundraiser for George House Trust this Sunday. Hosted by local drag queen, Xander Helsby prepare to be surprised and entertained through an evening of comedy and song!

World AIDS Day Open Mic Night

7.30-10.30pm Sunday 1 December

The Albert

66-68 Lark Lane

Liverpool

L17 8UU

Sunday, 1 December, 2024

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