THANK YOU

World AIDS Day is a time to remember those who we have lost to the epidemic, and a time to show solidarity to people who are living with HIV today, all around the globe.

THE MANCHESTER WORLD AIDS DAY PARTNERSHIP

World AIDS Day is a time when George House Trust collaborates with members of the Manchester World AIDS Day Partnership to organise Manchester's HIV Vigil and Candlelit walk.  The cermony started with a procession through the Village.  As usual, many of the bars paid tribute with staff standing in respectful silence and holding lit candles as the walkers passed by.   This year, over 400 people attended the main event in Sackville Gardens at the Beacon of Hope, the UK's only permanent memorial to those lost to HIV.  There were performances from the Manchester Glee Choir, speeches from Greater Manchester's interim Mayor Tony Lloyd and Deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester, Carl Austin.  The Chief Executives of three of the Partnership's member organisations, George Huse Trust, LGBT Foundation and BHA, also took to the stage.  The Vigil culiminated with the traditional laying of a red ribbon wreath of red roses at the Beacon.  An after-vigil event was hosted by The Eagle where £302.96 was raised in aid of the World AIDS Day Partnership.  Partnership members had also held awareness-raising events, sited collection boxes on bar-tops  in venues in the Village and sold red ribbons on the streets of Manchester to raise further funds, which will be distributed between George House Trust, LGBT Foundation and The Partnership.

WORLD AIDS DAY FUNDRAISING FOR GEORGE HOUSE TRUST

George House Trust is very grateful and wishes to thank individuals and organisations who held fundraising activities exclusively for George House Trust to support our services for people living with HIV in the North West.  Personal private donations were received as well as the proceeds from diverse events around the Village and beyond.  George House Trust thanks the following for their continued support for World AIDS Day and who raised over £2,600 and counting.

• ONN Bar, £227.37
• Eagle Bar, £315.76
• Bar Pop, £392.79
• New York, New York, £470.03
• Centre Stage, £TBA
• Taurus Bar, £470.03
• Bolton Pride, £TBA
• Manchester University School of Nursing, £368.43
• Halifax, £TBA

George House Trust currently has a vacancy on the Board of Trustees for someone with financial expertise. 

Please note that this is a voluntary role based in Manchester.

George House Trust is a well-established and vibrant HIV charity that is celebrating 30 years of supporting people living with HIV in the North West.

Our Trustees are the people who serve on the governing body of George House Trust.  Trustees accept the ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the Trust, ensuring it is well run and solvent.  Ten of our Trustees are Members elected by other Members of George House Trust, and are either active volunteers and/or service users.  There are six more places on the Board for co-opted Trustees who bring specialist skills.

We are looking to appoint a Trustee with financial expertise.  Working with the very capable Treasurer and Finance Manager, you will work with them to ensure that the Trust’s financial obligations are met.  We are looking for someone to bring an external perspective to financial planning and management, risk management and financial performance. 

You will need to commit to 12 regular meetings throughout the year.  Finance and Risk Sub-Committee meetings are held bi-monthly. The Board of Trustees also meets bi-monthly.  The nature of this role would require you to use sound judgement and knowledge to make difficult decisions and to act in the best interest of the Trust and its service users. 

If you think you have the skills and experience to join us, you will find a Trustee recruitment pack with more details about the role and a person specification here.

The closing date for applications for this post is 29th February 2016.

We especially welcome applications from people who reflect George House Trusts’ service user groups – HIV positive people (and other disabled people), gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, people from black and minority ethnic groups, and people from refugee communities.

George House Trust's vision is for all people living with HIV in the North West to live happy and healthy lives and be free from stigma and discrimination, and for all people to know their HIV status and to be HIV aware.

A team of staff, service users and friends will be taking to the football pitch on Thursday, 3rd March in Sport Relief 2016 Battle of the five-a-sides. 

Following their gruelling clash in the ‘Battle of the Backsides’ for Sport Relief 2014, footballing legends Alan Shearer and Robbie Savage are back for a rematch of epic proportions.

It’s a huge three-day event that will see Alan and Robbie each player-manage a squad, with over 1,000 people taking part to play a combined total of 57 hours of continuous five-a-side football – the equivalent of playing an entire Premier League season.

The teams will play on constant rotation on the Premier League Five-A-Side Stadium at Media City Salford, Manchester 

Supported by the Premier League, with broadcast coverage led by BBC Radio 5 live, this battle has one goal - to raise much-needed cash for Sport Relief.

Positively Tackling Poverty in Manchester has become one of more than 2,100 across the UK to receive a brand new ‘Red Plaque’ in recognition of its vital work, supported by Comic Relief funding. The project is a practical response to the needs of an increasing number of people living with HIV; providing a range of services which give HIV+ people the knowledge, support and tools to be able to tackle debt and manage their finances. Positively  Tackling  Poverty  is one of  16,800  UK  projects  who  have  received  funding from Comic Relief since the charity  began in 1988.  
The project  received £64,359 in 2014,  and used  that  money  to  provide  dedicated  support  for  with  people  living with  HIV  who  are experiencing  financial  hardship.  The  project  includes  support  for  service  users  to access utility debt services and negotiate payment plans; and offers 1:1 appointments information sessions  and  workshops.  As  health  is  crucial  for  people  living  with  HIV,  and  for  those experiencing financial difficulties, learning how to shop for the cheapest, most nutritious foods becomes paramount.Round and red to echo Comic Relief’s iconic Red Nose, the plaque features a quote from one of Comic Relief’s supporters –Billy Connelly and will placed at  George House Trust in Ardwick Green, Manchester.
Yvonne Hepburn-Foster, Fundraising Manager at George House Trust said: We are absolutely delighted to be supported by Comic Relief, to provide specialist money and debt advice to people living with HIV. Changes to benefits, and low incomes are resulting in some of our service  users  getting  into  debt,  often  forgoing  food  so  that  debts  can  be  paid and  their children  can  eat;  eating  very  poorly  and  experiencing  increased  levels  of  stress  or depression over their finances; all of which has an impact on their HIV health. Being able to focus  support  in  this  area  is  vital  to  improving  the  economic  and  physical  wellbeing  of people living with HIV.