WAGAMAMA CONTINUES TO MAKE IT RAIN(BOW) FOR THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY

WAGAMAMA CONTINUES TO MAKE IT RAIN(BOW) FOR THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY

23.08.17: Pan-Asian restaurant wagamama has extended its #makeitrainbow campaign to celebrate Manchester Pride this weekend. 

The day’s profits from wagamama bun sales (now selling an average of 1,000,000 yearly) will be donated to local charity, George House Trust, every time a rainbow is spotted in the sky above Manchester, from 25th August.

Rain falls an average of 151 days a year in Manchester, making it one of the wettest cities in the UK. wagamama is calling on the Mancunian community to help spot rainbows to unlock the donation by tweeting a picture with the hashtag #makeitrainbow.

To ensure the charity benefits whatever the weather and in case we enjoy 365 days of sunshine in Manchester (very unlikely), wagamama is committed to donating a minimum of £2,500 to George House Trust, aiding its important work to support people living with HIV.

Regular Giving Manager at George House Trust, Leroy Williamson said:

"George House Trust are over the moon to be working with wagamama on this fun engaging campaign. We rely on the financial support of businesses and our local community to enable us to provide a much needed service here in Manchester and the North West. The money raised by wagamama will go towards our welfare fund and counselling service to support people who are living with HIV. I think this 12-month campaign really shows an understanding and a commitment to equality. Manchester is a wonderful place and I’m positive everybody will come together for lots of fun with buns and rainbows."

Head of Marketing at wagamama, Andre Johnstone said:

“wagamama has always supported its staff when it comes to Pride across the UK but we have wanted to do more publicly to support the LGBT+ community in previous years. I’m pleased we can expand our support following the success of London and Brighton Pride and make a wider commitment to throw our support behind those who struggle to be who they are. We are who we are and we want you to just be you. What better way to ramp up our continued support and celebrate Pride than by backing a vitally important charity such as George House Trust.”

Manchester Pride is a community funded charity that challenges discrimination and campaigns for equality for the LGBT+ community. Pride gives people a platform to speak up and be who they want to be and creates a safe environment for all. This year, thousands will descend on Manchester to be a part of and support the LGBT+ community.

PASSIONATE ABOUT SEXUAL HEALTH (PaSH) PARTNERSHIP

We are delighted to announce the success of the Passionate about Sexual Health (PaSH) Partnership tender submission to deliver the Greater Manchester Sexual Health Improvement Programme.

The PaSH Partnership is a collaboration between BHA for Equality, George House Trust, and the LGBT Foundation, who are the current providers of HIV prevention and support across Greater Manchester.

The PaSH Partnership is looking forward to rolling out a comprehensive programme of interventions to meet the changing needs of people newly diagnosed with HIV, living longer term with HIV or at greatest risk of acquiring HIV.

The GM Sexual Health Improvement Programme will include HIV testing, access to low cost condoms, a dedicated sexual health website, HIV outreach, and support for adults and children newly diagnosed with HIV or living with HIV longer term.

Medical advances now mean that HIV is a manageable long term health condition when diagnosed early, but continuing levels of misunderstanding and a lack of up to date knowledge mean that HIV remains a highly stigmatised medical condition.

The PaSH Partnership believe that the work they are looking to deliver through the contract will be key to achieving Greater Manchester’s vision of ending HIV transmission within a generation.

The contract will commence on 1st July 2017 followed by a period of mobilisation and transition with the aim of achieving full operational delivery by the end of the year.

8 THINGS TO REMEMBER DURING PRIDE
 

BE WHO YOU ARE

After all, it’s what Pride is all about. Join George House Trust in the Parade and make a loud and proud stand against stigma and prejudice.

PACE YOURSELF

Pride is a marathon, not a sprint and a lot of alcohol will be flowing. If you’re drinking alcohol, know your limitations and remember to stay hydrated. If you’re taking HIV medication, try to remember not to miss a dose.

PASS IT ON…

Where there’s an opportunity, tell people about the fact that people living with HIV with an undetectable viral load can’t pass HIV to anyone else. Help spread the word that Undetectable = Untransmittable.
     

GOING ALONE?

Pride is about community and everyone’s there to celebrate the same thing. There’s no reason why you can’t attend events on your own if you want to. Use the opportunity to talk to someone new or come and say hello to the George House Trust volunteers in the Expo.

WILL THERE BE DRUGS AT THE PARTY?

There can be some serious interactions between some recreational drugs and HIV medication. Remember that your judgement and inhibitions may also be affected by substance use.

IT’S JUST A VIRUS…

If you choose to tell someone about your HIV over the weekend and it doesn’t go quite how you planned it, remember it’s their problem not yours. Don’t let outdated and ignorant attitudes spoil your fun.

STAY SAFE

If some Pride shenanigans is on the cards, your best protection against sexually transmitted infections is to use condoms. Grab a pocketful and away you go.
     

BE PROUD

Whether you attend Pride alone or with friends: celebrate, commemorate, dance and enjoy every second of it. Above all have fun and be proud of who you are.

UNDERSTAND THE TERMINOLOGY

Like any other medical condition, there’s some terminology you’ll need to get your head round – your clinic appointments will make far more sense when you do and you’ll have a much clearer picture of your HIV health. George House Trust Services Advisers can help you with this.

REMEMBER THAT CLINIC STAFF HAVE YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART

Your HIV doctor and the specialist nurses want the best for you. Make an effort to build a trusting and honest relationship with them. The more at ease you feel with your doctor or specialist nurse, the easier it will be to engage with your clinical care.

YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME IS YOUR TIME

This is your time to talk about what’s worrying you and to ask for clarification about anything you don’t understand. Your appointment should be a two way discussion between you and the health professional. You should leave feeling that your questions have been answered and you understand the answers you’ve been given.

BE INTERESTED IN YOUR HIV HEALTH

Go along to your clinic appointments showing an interest in your HIV health. Your results, for example, will enable you to see how well your medication is working, and you’ll have regular general health checks which will pick up on any other issues.

WRITE DOWN THE QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT

It's easy to forget some of the things you might want to ask. Write down a list of the things you want to talk about and take it with you – and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Remember that your appointment time is limited so focus on the issues most important for you.

TAKE A FRIEND WITH YOU IF YOU NEED TO

Some people find clinic appointments daunting. If you need a bit of support, ask a friend to come along with you. You won’t have to worry about having to remember everything that’s been said - they can listen out for the things you might miss.

BE HONEST WITH YOUR ANSWERS

In order for your HIV doctor to have a full and accurate picture of how they can best help you, they need to have all the facts. It’s much better to give honest answers to the questions they ask – even though it might feel embarrassing. Clinic staff won’t judge you – they’ve heard it all before!

YOU CAN TRANSFER YOUR CARE IF YOU WANT TO

You may have reasons for wanting to transfer your care to a different clinic. Think carefully about your reasons before making the decision. If you feel there are issues with the staff involved in your care try to work through these with them first. If you decide you want to, changing clinics is easy, and all you need to do is contact the one that you would like to attend and arrange an appointment.