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In the last year alone, Terrence Higgins Trust has seen a 15 per cent rise in the number of people applying to the Hardship Fund for small grants to cover basic living expenses such as food and clothing. Equally concerning is the 63 per cent increase in the number of applications from those whose benefits have stopped altogether.

The HIV and Poverty report, published by Terrence Higgins Trust in February this year, looks at the impact of poverty on people living with HIV. The report is based on an analysis of nearly 2,000 applications made in 2012 to the Hardship Fund, which provides grants of up to £250 for people living with HIV in financial crisis, and referrals to the Food Chain - which provides nutritional support to people with HIV.

The Hardship Fund should be supporting people to make positive changes that will improve their lives – such as setting up a new home or buying new clothes for a job interview. Yet these findings suggest that rather than lifting people with HIV out of poverty, the Fund is increasingly plugging the gap where Government support in the form of benefits, Asylum Support and local community services is failing to meet people’s needs.

In an age when highly effective treatments mean people with HIV can live long and healthy lives, it is nothing short of a disgrace that HIV and poverty should still go hand in hand. Last year, one in every 40 people diagnosed with HIV applied to our Hardship Fund.

Changes to the welfare benefits systemThough HIV and poverty should not be directly linked, we know that factors such as illness, discrimination, stigma, social exclusion, uncertain immigration status, mental health issues and family breakdown can leave people with HIV needing extra support at certain points in their lives. Indeed, 25 per cent of people living with HIV are unemployed and claiming benefits.

Support through the welfare benefits system can help people to cover additional costs due to illness and unemployment, or help them get back on their feet and regain their independence.

But in recent years there have been changes to the qualifying criteria for Employment Support Allowance (ESA), and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has replaced Disability Living Allowance

(DLA). These are the two main benefits that people may receive because of their HIV status and many people living with HIV are significantly worse off.

The Government has said that it wants to further reduce the total budget by 20 per cent once the conversion from DLA to PIP is complete. A growing number will therefore see further reductions to their weekly income.

Lives on the lineMore than 15 years after antiretroviral medication transformed HIV into a manageable condition, lack of Government support is leaving too many people with HIV facing poverty.

Terrence Higgins Trust launches guide for those delivering services to older people living with HIVTerrence Higgins Trust’s Health, Wealth and Happiness project recently launched the first guide for adult and social care services on supporting older people living with HIV. Over 100 staff, volunteers and people aged over 50 with HIV attended the launch event at the Lumen Church in Bloomsbury, central London.

We were privileged to be joined by Lord Chris Smith, who spoke powerfully about his own experiences of living openly with HIV in the public eye. He gave strong support to Terrence Higgins Trust’s continued work on HIV and ageing and close work with adult and social care services. He also spoke eloquently about his own experiences as a person aged over 50 living with HIV.

The new guide, entitled: Good Practice: Information and Advice on Delivering Services to Over 50s Living With HIV, talks about the need for services working with older people to provide sensitive, high quality care for all older people, especially those living with HIV.

For more information about the guide - and to watch a short film containing interviews with project volunteers - visit the Health, Wealth and Happiness web pages: www.tht.org.uk/hwh

Free copies of the guide are also available by contacting Health, Wealth and Happiness: healthwealthandhappiness@tht.org.uk

Move your running feet this autumn for Terrence Higgins TrustHere at Terrence Higgins Trust we have secured spots in some of the country’s top half marathons and would love you to join our team. Whether you fancy a truly royal experience at the Windsor Half Marathon, or you want to be our Angel of the North at the world’s largest half marathon – the Great North Run – we are sure that we have got the perfect event to get your heart racing. For full information on how you can get involved in one of our fabulous runs and help to stop HIV in its tracks, visit www.tht.org.uk/running or contact the fundraising team at fundraising@tht.org.uk or by calling: 020 7812 1668.

Terrence Higgins Trust is running free Activism and Involvement workshops supporting people living with HIV to stand up for their rights and raise awareness of the issues that matter to them. The first workshop took place in Gloucester in March and more are planned in Scotland, Wales and the North of England.

Since the launch of our interactive website myHIV three years ago, a strong activism thread has emerged in the community forums. Many members have found ways to speak out publicly and call for better political and public understanding of HIV.

The workshops, which train members how to influence decision-makers and raise awareness, cover:

• treatment advocacy and clinical engagement • awareness-raising and personal activism • political campaigning and activism.

Garry Brough, our Membership and Involvement Officer and forum administrator, says: ‘It’s been thrilling to watch myHIV grow into a thriving community and to see members stand up and fight their corner. Since our pilot workshop, those who attended

have launched blogs and websites, given national media interviews and even addressed the United Nations.’

If you would like to attend a workshop please email: garry.brough@tht.org.uk

Giving in Celebration!Are you celebrating a wedding, civil partnership, anniversary, or birthday this spring? You could ask your friends and family to make a donation to Terrence Higgins Trust instead of (or as well as) giving you a present. We can supply gift cards, pins and red ribbons to offer your guests. Visit www.tht.org.uk/celebrate for further information or contact Emma Robinson on 020 7812 1612 or: emma.robinson@tht.org.uk

The Auction 2014On 12 March, the great and the good gathered at Christie’s in London, for Terrence Higgins Trust’s electrifying annual auction.

With guests including Jerry Hall, Dr Christian Jessen, Wayne Sleep and Grace Dent it was an evening of fierce bidding, cocktails and canapés. It was inspiring to see so many people coming together to raise over £300,000 - an overwhelming sum - for Terrence Higgins Trust.

The money raised is absolutely integral to ensuring that Terrence Higgins Trust can stop the spread of HIV. It enables us to continue to change attitudes towards HIV testing, persuade more people to test and get more people with HIV onto treatment. Thank you to all who came and made it such a special night.

With a gift in your will, you can help us be hereUntil the day people with HIV no longer face stigma. Until the day people no longer feel terrified and alone when they are diagnosed. Until the day people with HIV no longer struggle with poverty and ill health. Until the day we stop HIV in its tracks. A decade. A generation. A lifetime. However long it takes to win the fight against HIV, we know that in the years ahead we will need friends like you more than ever.

To request our free guide to leaving a gift to Terrence Higgins Trust in your will, please call Diane on 020 7812 1673, email diane.faure@tht.org.uk or visit: tht.org.uk/legacy

Walk for LifeJoin us and Walk for Life this summer. This year is the 25th annual 10k sponsored walking event - and we’re celebrating with a super theme: Heroes, Heroines and Villains. Whether you are ready to don your cape as a handsome hero or you’re a dastardly villain, we would love you to join us for a fantastic walk around central London on Sunday 8 June. Walk for Life raises money for our Hardship Fund supporting people living with HIV who are in poverty. For more information and to register visit: www.walkforlife.co.uk

World AIDS Day 2013We are delighted to announce that 2013’s World AIDS Day has raised over £36,000 so far - which is absolutely fantastic. A huge thank you for all your support, whether you were holding cake sales, having dress-down days or doing collections for us. We really appreciate your generosity.

Take part in our free ‘Activism and Involvement’ workshops

bread

v

Ben’s StoryBen from Scotland lost his DLA, although his mobility is still poor. He was no longer able to keep his motability car and could not get to appointments or go to the shops. With less money coming in Ben was not able to meet his monthly costs and he was beginning to struggle. The Hardship Fund gave Ben some money to help with everyday costs.

Photograph © artproemn/Shutterstock.com

The newsletter for Terrence Higgins Trust’s valued supportersMay 2014 | Issue 9

Photograph © bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock.com

Donate

I am delighted to be the new Chief Executive of this outstanding and iconic charity - and am very much enjoying working with the inspirational staff and volunteers to achieve our vision. The work taking

place across the charity and the services I have visited so far have impressed me greatly.

As a valued supporter I thought you might like to know a little bit about me.

A northerner now living in London, I started my career as a clinical nurse then went on to become a university academic in health policy. I then led The King’s Fund’s Patient Involvement Project. After that I held senior positions in the NHS and the voluntary sector, including

deputy CEO of Breast Cancer Care and CEO

of The Roy Castle

Lung Cancer Foundation among others.

My most recent post was Chief Executive of AVERT, an international HIV charity, so I’m very pleased to continue working in HIV and sexual health. As a former nurse I have a good understanding of the issues surrounding HIV and am proud of our long-term objectives.

We want to cut new HIV infections by one third over the next five years – which you can read more about below. We are also committed to supporting older people living with HIV. Ten years from

now, the majority of people with HIV will be aged over 50 and they, as well as the staff caring for them, will need our expertise. At the other end of the spectrum we will carry on providing sexual health services for young people and campaigning for sex and relationships education to be a compulsory part of the National Curriculum.

I have heard wonderful things about the support people like you have given us over many years and I look forward to meeting many of you. Thank you for your support, we really value it - your support will help make our vision reality.

Imagine if we could cut the number of new HIV infections by a third in five year’s time. Terrence Higgins Trust believes we can and that England can be the first country in the world to turn the tide of its HIV epidemic.

Our new report entitled 2020 Vision: Making England’s HIV Prevention Response the Best in the World, sets out a series of targets to address undiagnosed HIV and infectiousness:

• Testing an extra 250,000 people per year in the greatest risk groups for HIV. • Reducing the number of people with undiagnosed HIV by 50 per cent to 10,000 people.

• Getting 75 per cent of all people with HIV onto treatment so that they are more likely to become uninfectious.

If these targets were met within the next five years, by 2020 the number of new HIV

infections in England would be slashed by one third - from around 6,000 cases to 4,000 cases each year. This reduction would save around £560 million per year in HIV treatment costs and hopefully the rest of the UK could set similar goals.

Dr Valerie Delpech, Head of HIV Surveillance at Public Health England, says: ‘There are now more than 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK and around one in five remain undiagnosed. These individuals are more likely to present with advanced infection and to pass on the virus. It is vital we invest in HIV prevention, address the barriers that mean too many people are currently not getting tested and reduce new HIV infections across the UK.’

2020 Vision: Making England’s HIV Prevention Response the Best in the World is available to download at: www.hivpreventionengland.org.uk/resources

Message From Dr Rosemary GillespieTerrence Higgins Trust’s new Chief Executive

Together We Can Stop HIV

We know that with the right support, people living with HIV can have the same opportunities as anyone else. Thanks to your help and that of our funders (Big Lottery Fund, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and MAC AIDS Fund), Terrence Higgins Trust is able to offer that support and the following services to thousands of people living with HIV, making a real difference to their lives. Here is how:

The Hardship FundWe work tirelessly to mitigate levels of poverty for people living with HIV through the Hardship Fund. This gives small grants to support their basic needs and those of their families. The Hardship Fund distributes approximately 2,000 grants per year and also gives information about

services and benefits available to applicants. We are using data from the application process to lobby the Government to improve provision for people with HIV.

Because we believe in giving individuals with HIV a hand up, not a hand out, the Hardship Fund is embedded into a broader range of anti-poverty services within Terrence Higgins Trust.

Financial FuturesOne of these services is Financial Futures, which was launched in 2013 by Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland.

Many people with HIV and hepatitis C are seeing their welfare payments cut or delayed as a result of recent welfare reforms, which pushes them further into debt and ill health. With no

Why is poverty an issue for people living with HIV?

The relationship between poverty and HIV is cyclical. Poor health caused by HIV increases demands on personal resources at the same time that ability to work and generate income becomes limited. This creates an entry-point into poverty - which means people cannot easily access good nutrition, housing and healthcare. Poverty can significantly deteriorate the physical and mental health of someone living with HIV.

But the health impact of the condition is only part of the story. Unfortunately there is still stigma attached to HIV, which can lead to work discrimination or continued unemployment, as well as limited support from friends and family. This pushes people further into isolation from society and can often have mental health consequences, all of which can compound financial difficulties.

Certain populations are more likely to experience financial hardship. A disproportionate number of women living with HIV and, more specifically, black African single mothers, seek help from the Hardship Fund. The costs associated with caring for children, gender inequality and relationship breakdowns are most often associated with financial hardship.

Similarly, a large proportion of people with HIV are living in extreme poverty because of their immigration status. Asylum seekers are normally given a small cash payment, starting at £36.62 every week, to buy essential items and food. While this support is welcomed in the short term, the reality is that in the long

term it is insufficient. Yet the Government can take as long as six months or more to respond to people’s asylum applications.

HIV is a complex and long-term condition that requires more than pharmacological interventions. It is vital that people living with the condition are fairly assessed and that financial support is sufficient to allow them to eat, clothe themselves and stay warm - and ultimately regain long-term financial security.

Terrence Higgins Trust has set out five key recommendations for local and national Government:

• The Government must ensure that those who need support are fairly assessed and that benefits are sufficient to cover basic costs. • The Work and Pensions Select Committee should hold an inquiry into the impact of welfare reforms. • The Department for Work and Pensions must ensure that people are supported to find sustainable employment

suitable for their long-term health and wellbeing. • The Government should aim to complete the asylum process within six months and must allow people to work after 30 days. • Local Authorities must assess the needs of people living with HIV in their areas and provide adequate services.

If you feel that HIV and poverty are an unacceptable combination and would like to contribute to making a change, why not email your cabinet member for health and bring this issue to their attention? To do so, go to: www.tht.org.uk/stoppoverty where you can find out who your cabinet member for health is and email them directly. We have even created a simple email you can use to send them.

alternative sources of income, more and more are turning to high-interest lenders for loans they can neither afford nor repay.

In response, Financial Futures supports people with HIV or hepatitis C caught in a financial crisis with their immediate financial problems. They also ensure that they understand their welfare benefit entitlements and are able to plan financially

for the future as well as helping them to manage lower incomes.

Back To Work ProgrammePeople with HIV who have been out of work for a long time may find their workplace knowledge and skills outdated. Many have lost their confidence and self-esteem and worry about how they will manage their HIV at work.

Terrence Higgins Trust’s Back to Work Programme gives people with HIV the opportunities to develop and renew skills, meet new people, try out new occupations and overcome personal barriers.

In 2013 alone, 27 people benefited from the scheme. Over a third of the participants have already been successful in getting paid employment and many others are more confident, have developed their skills and are in a better place to secure employment when the opportunity arises.

‘I was thinking on the Tube on the way here about what had changed over the last six months. Before it was all about “I can’t” and now it’s all about “I can”.’ Former Back to Work Programme participant.

How You Are Helping to Break the Cycle of Poverty

Angelique’s StoryAngelique came to Yorkshire from Zimbabwe to claim asylum. She was forbidden to work while waiting for the outcome of her application. Angelique could not breastfeed her son because of her HIV status but the £70 a week she was receiving was not enough to buy sufficient food, baby milk and essentials.

Jane’s StoryJane from the Midlands had been offered a job, but when her employer found out about her HIV status the job offer was withdrawn. She continued to look for work but with her Jobseekers Allowance as her only income, she found it hard to cover her bills and travel costs to interviews.

Victoria’s StoryVictoria was referred to the Financial Futures team as her Disability Living Allowance (DLA) had been stopped and she was struggling to meet her basic needs and pay household bills. Our project worker visited her at home - Victoria was experiencing multiple health problems including blindness in her right eye, a post-operative inguinal hernia, Type 2 diabetes, hand tremors, problems with mobility and depression. She had recently had a malignant growth removed from her back. We successfully helped Victoria to get her DLA reinstated and negotiate a payment plan with her electricity company. The Financial Futures worker also offered Victoria much-needed moral support.

Theresa’s StoryTheresa is married with four children and lives with her husband in London. Following routine antenatal screening during her pregnancy, she tested HIV positive while her husband tested negative. The couple is not entitled to benefits and their limited income means that they often have to go without food. Theresa’s husband blames her for her HIV status and therefore does not give her the money she needs to buy food to support her dietary needs. Because Theresa is in the UK on a Spouse Visa, she is unable to work or claim benefits in her own right.

Donate

I am delighted to be the new Chief Executive of this outstanding and iconic charity - and am very much enjoying working with the inspirational staff and volunteers to achieve our vision. The work taking

place across the charity and the services I have visited so far have impressed me greatly.

As a valued supporter I thought you might like to know a little bit about me.

A northerner now living in London, I started my career as a clinical nurse then went on to become a university academic in health policy. I then led The King’s Fund’s Patient Involvement Project. After that I held senior positions in the NHS and the voluntary sector, including

deputy CEO of Breast Cancer Care and CEO

of The Roy Castle

Lung Cancer Foundation among others.

My most recent post was Chief Executive of AVERT, an international HIV charity, so I’m very pleased to continue working in HIV and sexual health. As a former nurse I have a good understanding of the issues surrounding HIV and am proud of our long-term objectives.

We want to cut new HIV infections by one third over the next five years – which you can read more about below. We are also committed to supporting older people living with HIV. Ten years from

now, the majority of people with HIV will be aged over 50 and they, as well as the staff caring for them, will need our expertise. At the other end of the spectrum we will carry on providing sexual health services for young people and campaigning for sex and relationships education to be a compulsory part of the National Curriculum.

I have heard wonderful things about the support people like you have given us over many years and I look forward to meeting many of you. Thank you for your support, we really value it - your support will help make our vision reality.

Imagine if we could cut the number of new HIV infections by a third in five year’s time. Terrence Higgins Trust believes we can and that England can be the first country in the world to turn the tide of its HIV epidemic.

Our new report entitled 2020 Vision: Making England’s HIV Prevention Response the Best in the World, sets out a series of targets to address undiagnosed HIV and infectiousness:

• Testing an extra 250,000 people per year in the greatest risk groups for HIV. • Reducing the number of people with undiagnosed HIV by 50 per cent to 10,000 people.

• Getting 75 per cent of all people with HIV onto treatment so that they are more likely to become uninfectious.

If these targets were met within the next five years, by 2020 the number of new HIV

infections in England would be slashed by one third - from around 6,000 cases to 4,000 cases each year. This reduction would save around £560 million per year in HIV treatment costs and hopefully the rest of the UK could set similar goals.

Dr Valerie Delpech, Head of HIV Surveillance at Public Health England, says: ‘There are now more than 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK and around one in five remain undiagnosed. These individuals are more likely to present with advanced infection and to pass on the virus. It is vital we invest in HIV prevention, address the barriers that mean too many people are currently not getting tested and reduce new HIV infections across the UK.’

2020 Vision: Making England’s HIV Prevention Response the Best in the World is available to download at: www.hivpreventionengland.org.uk/resources

Message From Dr Rosemary GillespieTerrence Higgins Trust’s new Chief Executive

Together We Can Stop HIV

We know that with the right support, people living with HIV can have the same opportunities as anyone else. Thanks to your help and that of our funders (Big Lottery Fund, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and MAC AIDS Fund), Terrence Higgins Trust is able to offer that support and the following services to thousands of people living with HIV, making a real difference to their lives. Here is how:

The Hardship FundWe work tirelessly to mitigate levels of poverty for people living with HIV through the Hardship Fund. This gives small grants to support their basic needs and those of their families. The Hardship Fund distributes approximately 2,000 grants per year and also gives information about

services and benefits available to applicants. We are using data from the application process to lobby the Government to improve provision for people with HIV.

Because we believe in giving individuals with HIV a hand up, not a hand out, the Hardship Fund is embedded into a broader range of anti-poverty services within Terrence Higgins Trust.

Financial FuturesOne of these services is Financial Futures, which was launched in 2013 by Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland.

Many people with HIV and hepatitis C are seeing their welfare payments cut or delayed as a result of recent welfare reforms, which pushes them further into debt and ill health. With no

Why is poverty an issue for people living with HIV?

The relationship between poverty and HIV is cyclical. Poor health caused by HIV increases demands on personal resources at the same time that ability to work and generate income becomes limited. This creates an entry-point into poverty - which means people cannot easily access good nutrition, housing and healthcare. Poverty can significantly deteriorate the physical and mental health of someone living with HIV.

But the health impact of the condition is only part of the story. Unfortunately there is still stigma attached to HIV, which can lead to work discrimination or continued unemployment, as well as limited support from friends and family. This pushes people further into isolation from society and can often have mental health consequences, all of which can compound financial difficulties.

Certain populations are more likely to experience financial hardship. A disproportionate number of women living with HIV and, more specifically, black African single mothers, seek help from the Hardship Fund. The costs associated with caring for children, gender inequality and relationship breakdowns are most often associated with financial hardship.

Similarly, a large proportion of people with HIV are living in extreme poverty because of their immigration status. Asylum seekers are normally given a small cash payment, starting at £36.62 every week, to buy essential items and food. While this support is welcomed in the short term, the reality is that in the long

term it is insufficient. Yet the Government can take as long as six months or more to respond to people’s asylum applications.

HIV is a complex and long-term condition that requires more than pharmacological interventions. It is vital that people living with the condition are fairly assessed and that financial support is sufficient to allow them to eat, clothe themselves and stay warm - and ultimately regain long-term financial security.

Terrence Higgins Trust has set out five key recommendations for local and national Government:

• The Government must ensure that those who need support are fairly assessed and that benefits are sufficient to cover basic costs. • The Work and Pensions Select Committee should hold an inquiry into the impact of welfare reforms. • The Department for Work and Pensions must ensure that people are supported to find sustainable employment

suitable for their long-term health and wellbeing. • The Government should aim to complete the asylum process within six months and must allow people to work after 30 days. • Local Authorities must assess the needs of people living with HIV in their areas and provide adequate services.

If you feel that HIV and poverty are an unacceptable combination and would like to contribute to making a change, why not email your cabinet member for health and bring this issue to their attention? To do so, go to: www.tht.org.uk/stoppoverty where you can find out who your cabinet member for health is and email them directly. We have even created a simple email you can use to send them.

alternative sources of income, more and more are turning to high-interest lenders for loans they can neither afford nor repay.

In response, Financial Futures supports people with HIV or hepatitis C caught in a financial crisis with their immediate financial problems. They also ensure that they understand their welfare benefit entitlements and are able to plan financially

for the future as well as helping them to manage lower incomes.

Back To Work ProgrammePeople with HIV who have been out of work for a long time may find their workplace knowledge and skills outdated. Many have lost their confidence and self-esteem and worry about how they will manage their HIV at work.

Terrence Higgins Trust’s Back to Work Programme gives people with HIV the opportunities to develop and renew skills, meet new people, try out new occupations and overcome personal barriers.

In 2013 alone, 27 people benefited from the scheme. Over a third of the participants have already been successful in getting paid employment and many others are more confident, have developed their skills and are in a better place to secure employment when the opportunity arises.

‘I was thinking on the Tube on the way here about what had changed over the last six months. Before it was all about “I can’t” and now it’s all about “I can”.’ Former Back to Work Programme participant.

How You Are Helping to Break the Cycle of Poverty

Angelique’s StoryAngelique came to Yorkshire from Zimbabwe to claim asylum. She was forbidden to work while waiting for the outcome of her application. Angelique could not breastfeed her son because of her HIV status but the £70 a week she was receiving was not enough to buy sufficient food, baby milk and essentials.

Jane’s StoryJane from the Midlands had been offered a job, but when her employer found out about her HIV status the job offer was withdrawn. She continued to look for work but with her Jobseekers Allowance as her only income, she found it hard to cover her bills and travel costs to interviews.

Victoria’s StoryVictoria was referred to the Financial Futures team as her Disability Living Allowance (DLA) had been stopped and she was struggling to meet her basic needs and pay household bills. Our project worker visited her at home - Victoria was experiencing multiple health problems including blindness in her right eye, a post-operative inguinal hernia, Type 2 diabetes, hand tremors, problems with mobility and depression. She had recently had a malignant growth removed from her back. We successfully helped Victoria to get her DLA reinstated and negotiate a payment plan with her electricity company. The Financial Futures worker also offered Victoria much-needed moral support.

Theresa’s StoryTheresa is married with four children and lives with her husband in London. Following routine antenatal screening during her pregnancy, she tested HIV positive while her husband tested negative. The couple is not entitled to benefits and their limited income means that they often have to go without food. Theresa’s husband blames her for her HIV status and therefore does not give her the money she needs to buy food to support her dietary needs. Because Theresa is in the UK on a Spouse Visa, she is unable to work or claim benefits in her own right.

Donate

I am delighted to be the new Chief Executive of this outstanding and iconic charity - and am very much enjoying working with the inspirational staff and volunteers to achieve our vision. The work taking

place across the charity and the services I have visited so far have impressed me greatly.

As a valued supporter I thought you might like to know a little bit about me.

A northerner now living in London, I started my career as a clinical nurse then went on to become a university academic in health policy. I then led The King’s Fund’s Patient Involvement Project. After that I held senior positions in the NHS and the voluntary sector, including

deputy CEO of Breast Cancer Care and CEO

of The Roy Castle

Lung Cancer Foundation among others.

My most recent post was Chief Executive of AVERT, an international HIV charity, so I’m very pleased to continue working in HIV and sexual health. As a former nurse I have a good understanding of the issues surrounding HIV and am proud of our long-term objectives.

We want to cut new HIV infections by one third over the next five years – which you can read more about below. We are also committed to supporting older people living with HIV. Ten years from

now, the majority of people with HIV will be aged over 50 and they, as well as the staff caring for them, will need our expertise. At the other end of the spectrum we will carry on providing sexual health services for young people and campaigning for sex and relationships education to be a compulsory part of the National Curriculum.

I have heard wonderful things about the support people like you have given us over many years and I look forward to meeting many of you. Thank you for your support, we really value it - your support will help make our vision reality.

Imagine if we could cut the number of new HIV infections by a third in five year’s time. Terrence Higgins Trust believes we can and that England can be the first country in the world to turn the tide of its HIV epidemic.

Our new report entitled 2020 Vision: Making England’s HIV Prevention Response the Best in the World, sets out a series of targets to address undiagnosed HIV and infectiousness:

• Testing an extra 250,000 people per year in the greatest risk groups for HIV. • Reducing the number of people with undiagnosed HIV by 50 per cent to 10,000 people.

• Getting 75 per cent of all people with HIV onto treatment so that they are more likely to become uninfectious.

If these targets were met within the next five years, by 2020 the number of new HIV

infections in England would be slashed by one third - from around 6,000 cases to 4,000 cases each year. This reduction would save around £560 million per year in HIV treatment costs and hopefully the rest of the UK could set similar goals.

Dr Valerie Delpech, Head of HIV Surveillance at Public Health England, says: ‘There are now more than 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK and around one in five remain undiagnosed. These individuals are more likely to present with advanced infection and to pass on the virus. It is vital we invest in HIV prevention, address the barriers that mean too many people are currently not getting tested and reduce new HIV infections across the UK.’

2020 Vision: Making England’s HIV Prevention Response the Best in the World is available to download at: www.hivpreventionengland.org.uk/resources

Message From Dr Rosemary GillespieTerrence Higgins Trust’s new Chief Executive

Together We Can Stop HIV

We know that with the right support, people living with HIV can have the same opportunities as anyone else. Thanks to your help and that of our funders (Big Lottery Fund, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and MAC AIDS Fund), Terrence Higgins Trust is able to offer that support and the following services to thousands of people living with HIV, making a real difference to their lives. Here is how:

The Hardship FundWe work tirelessly to mitigate levels of poverty for people living with HIV through the Hardship Fund. This gives small grants to support their basic needs and those of their families. The Hardship Fund distributes approximately 2,000 grants per year and also gives information about

services and benefits available to applicants. We are using data from the application process to lobby the Government to improve provision for people with HIV.

Because we believe in giving individuals with HIV a hand up, not a hand out, the Hardship Fund is embedded into a broader range of anti-poverty services within Terrence Higgins Trust.

Financial FuturesOne of these services is Financial Futures, which was launched in 2013 by Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland.

Many people with HIV and hepatitis C are seeing their welfare payments cut or delayed as a result of recent welfare reforms, which pushes them further into debt and ill health. With no

Why is poverty an issue for people living with HIV?

The relationship between poverty and HIV is cyclical. Poor health caused by HIV increases demands on personal resources at the same time that ability to work and generate income becomes limited. This creates an entry-point into poverty - which means people cannot easily access good nutrition, housing and healthcare. Poverty can significantly deteriorate the physical and mental health of someone living with HIV.

But the health impact of the condition is only part of the story. Unfortunately there is still stigma attached to HIV, which can lead to work discrimination or continued unemployment, as well as limited support from friends and family. This pushes people further into isolation from society and can often have mental health consequences, all of which can compound financial difficulties.

Certain populations are more likely to experience financial hardship. A disproportionate number of women living with HIV and, more specifically, black African single mothers, seek help from the Hardship Fund. The costs associated with caring for children, gender inequality and relationship breakdowns are most often associated with financial hardship.

Similarly, a large proportion of people with HIV are living in extreme poverty because of their immigration status. Asylum seekers are normally given a small cash payment, starting at £36.62 every week, to buy essential items and food. While this support is welcomed in the short term, the reality is that in the long

term it is insufficient. Yet the Government can take as long as six months or more to respond to people’s asylum applications.

HIV is a complex and long-term condition that requires more than pharmacological interventions. It is vital that people living with the condition are fairly assessed and that financial support is sufficient to allow them to eat, clothe themselves and stay warm - and ultimately regain long-term financial security.

Terrence Higgins Trust has set out five key recommendations for local and national Government:

• The Government must ensure that those who need support are fairly assessed and that benefits are sufficient to cover basic costs. • The Work and Pensions Select Committee should hold an inquiry into the impact of welfare reforms. • The Department for Work and Pensions must ensure that people are supported to find sustainable employment

suitable for their long-term health and wellbeing. • The Government should aim to complete the asylum process within six months and must allow people to work after 30 days. • Local Authorities must assess the needs of people living with HIV in their areas and provide adequate services.

If you feel that HIV and poverty are an unacceptable combination and would like to contribute to making a change, why not email your cabinet member for health and bring this issue to their attention? To do so, go to: www.tht.org.uk/stoppoverty where you can find out who your cabinet member for health is and email them directly. We have even created a simple email you can use to send them.

alternative sources of income, more and more are turning to high-interest lenders for loans they can neither afford nor repay.

In response, Financial Futures supports people with HIV or hepatitis C caught in a financial crisis with their immediate financial problems. They also ensure that they understand their welfare benefit entitlements and are able to plan financially

for the future as well as helping them to manage lower incomes.

Back To Work ProgrammePeople with HIV who have been out of work for a long time may find their workplace knowledge and skills outdated. Many have lost their confidence and self-esteem and worry about how they will manage their HIV at work.

Terrence Higgins Trust’s Back to Work Programme gives people with HIV the opportunities to develop and renew skills, meet new people, try out new occupations and overcome personal barriers.

In 2013 alone, 27 people benefited from the scheme. Over a third of the participants have already been successful in getting paid employment and many others are more confident, have developed their skills and are in a better place to secure employment when the opportunity arises.

‘I was thinking on the Tube on the way here about what had changed over the last six months. Before it was all about “I can’t” and now it’s all about “I can”.’ Former Back to Work Programme participant.

How You Are Helping to Break the Cycle of Poverty

Angelique’s StoryAngelique came to Yorkshire from Zimbabwe to claim asylum. She was forbidden to work while waiting for the outcome of her application. Angelique could not breastfeed her son because of her HIV status but the £70 a week she was receiving was not enough to buy sufficient food, baby milk and essentials.

Jane’s StoryJane from the Midlands had been offered a job, but when her employer found out about her HIV status the job offer was withdrawn. She continued to look for work but with her Jobseekers Allowance as her only income, she found it hard to cover her bills and travel costs to interviews.

Victoria’s StoryVictoria was referred to the Financial Futures team as her Disability Living Allowance (DLA) had been stopped and she was struggling to meet her basic needs and pay household bills. Our project worker visited her at home - Victoria was experiencing multiple health problems including blindness in her right eye, a post-operative inguinal hernia, Type 2 diabetes, hand tremors, problems with mobility and depression. She had recently had a malignant growth removed from her back. We successfully helped Victoria to get her DLA reinstated and negotiate a payment plan with her electricity company. The Financial Futures worker also offered Victoria much-needed moral support.

Theresa’s StoryTheresa is married with four children and lives with her husband in London. Following routine antenatal screening during her pregnancy, she tested HIV positive while her husband tested negative. The couple is not entitled to benefits and their limited income means that they often have to go without food. Theresa’s husband blames her for her HIV status and therefore does not give her the money she needs to buy food to support her dietary needs. Because Theresa is in the UK on a Spouse Visa, she is unable to work or claim benefits in her own right.

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In the last year alone, Terrence Higgins Trust has seen a 15 per cent rise in the number of people applying to the Hardship Fund for small grants to cover basic living expenses such as food and clothing. Equally concerning is the 63 per cent increase in the number of applications from those whose benefits have stopped altogether.

The HIV and Poverty report, published by Terrence Higgins Trust in February this year, looks at the impact of poverty on people living with HIV. The report is based on an analysis of nearly 2,000 applications made in 2012 to the Hardship Fund, which provides grants of up to £250 for people living with HIV in financial crisis, and referrals to the Food Chain - which provides nutritional support to people with HIV.

The Hardship Fund should be supporting people to make positive changes that will improve their lives – such as setting up a new home or buying new clothes for a job interview. Yet these findings suggest that rather than lifting people with HIV out of poverty, the Fund is increasingly plugging the gap where Government support in the form of benefits, Asylum Support and local community services is failing to meet people’s needs.

In an age when highly effective treatments mean people with HIV can live long and healthy lives, it is nothing short of a disgrace that HIV and poverty should still go hand in hand. Last year, one in every 40 people diagnosed with HIV applied to our Hardship Fund.

Changes to the welfare benefits systemThough HIV and poverty should not be directly linked, we know that factors such as illness, discrimination, stigma, social exclusion, uncertain immigration status, mental health issues and family breakdown can leave people with HIV needing extra support at certain points in their lives. Indeed, 25 per cent of people living with HIV are unemployed and claiming benefits.

Support through the welfare benefits system can help people to cover additional costs due to illness and unemployment, or help them get back on their feet and regain their independence.

But in recent years there have been changes to the qualifying criteria for Employment Support Allowance (ESA), and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has replaced Disability Living Allowance

(DLA). These are the two main benefits that people may receive because of their HIV status and many people living with HIV are significantly worse off.

The Government has said that it wants to further reduce the total budget by 20 per cent once the conversion from DLA to PIP is complete. A growing number will therefore see further reductions to their weekly income.

Lives on the lineMore than 15 years after antiretroviral medication transformed HIV into a manageable condition, lack of Government support is leaving too many people with HIV facing poverty.

Terrence Higgins Trust launches guide for those delivering services to older people living with HIVTerrence Higgins Trust’s Health, Wealth and Happiness project recently launched the first guide for adult and social care services on supporting older people living with HIV. Over 100 staff, volunteers and people aged over 50 with HIV attended the launch event at the Lumen Church in Bloomsbury, central London.

We were privileged to be joined by Lord Chris Smith, who spoke powerfully about his own experiences of living openly with HIV in the public eye. He gave strong support to Terrence Higgins Trust’s continued work on HIV and ageing and close work with adult and social care services. He also spoke eloquently about his own experiences as a person aged over 50 living with HIV.

The new guide, entitled: Good Practice: Information and Advice on Delivering Services to Over 50s Living With HIV, talks about the need for services working with older people to provide sensitive, high quality care for all older people, especially those living with HIV.

For more information about the guide - and to watch a short film containing interviews with project volunteers - visit the Health, Wealth and Happiness web pages: www.tht.org.uk/hwh

Free copies of the guide are also available by contacting Health, Wealth and Happiness: healthwealthandhappiness@tht.org.uk

Move your running feet this autumn for Terrence Higgins TrustHere at Terrence Higgins Trust we have secured spots in some of the country’s top half marathons and would love you to join our team. Whether you fancy a truly royal experience at the Windsor Half Marathon, or you want to be our Angel of the North at the world’s largest half marathon – the Great North Run – we are sure that we have got the perfect event to get your heart racing. For full information on how you can get involved in one of our fabulous runs and help to stop HIV in its tracks, visit www.tht.org.uk/running or contact the fundraising team at fundraising@tht.org.uk or by calling: 020 7812 1668.

Terrence Higgins Trust is running free Activism and Involvement workshops supporting people living with HIV to stand up for their rights and raise awareness of the issues that matter to them. The first workshop took place in Gloucester in March and more are planned in Scotland, Wales and the North of England.

Since the launch of our interactive website myHIV three years ago, a strong activism thread has emerged in the community forums. Many members have found ways to speak out publicly and call for better political and public understanding of HIV.

The workshops, which train members how to influence decision-makers and raise awareness, cover:

• treatment advocacy and clinical engagement • awareness-raising and personal activism • political campaigning and activism.

Garry Brough, our Membership and Involvement Officer and forum administrator, says: ‘It’s been thrilling to watch myHIV grow into a thriving community and to see members stand up and fight their corner. Since our pilot workshop, those who attended

have launched blogs and websites, given national media interviews and even addressed the United Nations.’

If you would like to attend a workshop please email: garry.brough@tht.org.uk

Giving in Celebration!Are you celebrating a wedding, civil partnership, anniversary, or birthday this spring? You could ask your friends and family to make a donation to Terrence Higgins Trust instead of (or as well as) giving you a present. We can supply gift cards, pins and red ribbons to offer your guests. Visit www.tht.org.uk/celebrate for further information or contact Emma Robinson on 020 7812 1612 or: emma.robinson@tht.org.uk

The Auction 2014On 12 March, the great and the good gathered at Christie’s in London, for Terrence Higgins Trust’s electrifying annual auction.

With guests including Jerry Hall, Dr Christian Jessen, Wayne Sleep and Grace Dent it was an evening of fierce bidding, cocktails and canapés. It was inspiring to see so many people coming together to raise over £300,000 - an overwhelming sum - for Terrence Higgins Trust.

The money raised is absolutely integral to ensuring that Terrence Higgins Trust can stop the spread of HIV. It enables us to continue to change attitudes towards HIV testing, persuade more people to test and get more people with HIV onto treatment. Thank you to all who came and made it such a special night.

With a gift in your will, you can help us be hereUntil the day people with HIV no longer face stigma. Until the day people no longer feel terrified and alone when they are diagnosed. Until the day people with HIV no longer struggle with poverty and ill health. Until the day we stop HIV in its tracks. A decade. A generation. A lifetime. However long it takes to win the fight against HIV, we know that in the years ahead we will need friends like you more than ever.

To request our free guide to leaving a gift to Terrence Higgins Trust in your will, please call Diane on 020 7812 1673, email diane.faure@tht.org.uk or visit: tht.org.uk/legacy

Walk for LifeJoin us and Walk for Life this summer. This year is the 25th annual 10k sponsored walking event - and we’re celebrating with a super theme: Heroes, Heroines and Villains. Whether you are ready to don your cape as a handsome hero or you’re a dastardly villain, we would love you to join us for a fantastic walk around central London on Sunday 8 June. Walk for Life raises money for our Hardship Fund supporting people living with HIV who are in poverty. For more information and to register visit: www.walkforlife.co.uk

World AIDS Day 2013We are delighted to announce that 2013’s World AIDS Day has raised over £36,000 so far - which is absolutely fantastic. A huge thank you for all your support, whether you were holding cake sales, having dress-down days or doing collections for us. We really appreciate your generosity.

Take part in our free ‘Activism and Involvement’ workshops

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Ben’s StoryBen from Scotland lost his DLA, although his mobility is still poor. He was no longer able to keep his motability car and could not get to appointments or go to the shops. With less money coming in Ben was not able to meet his monthly costs and he was beginning to struggle. The Hardship Fund gave Ben some money to help with everyday costs.

Photograph © artproemn/Shutterstock.com

The newsletter for Terrence Higgins Trust’s valued supportersMay 2014 | Issue 9

Photograph © bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock.com

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News Fundraising News

In the last year alone, Terrence Higgins Trust has seen a 15 per cent rise in the number of people applying to the Hardship Fund for small grants to cover basic living expenses such as food and clothing. Equally concerning is the 63 per cent increase in the number of applications from those whose benefits have stopped altogether.

The HIV and Poverty report, published by Terrence Higgins Trust in February this year, looks at the impact of poverty on people living with HIV. The report is based on an analysis of nearly 2,000 applications made in 2012 to the Hardship Fund, which provides grants of up to £250 for people living with HIV in financial crisis, and referrals to the Food Chain - which provides nutritional support to people with HIV.

The Hardship Fund should be supporting people to make positive changes that will improve their lives – such as setting up a new home or buying new clothes for a job interview. Yet these findings suggest that rather than lifting people with HIV out of poverty, the Fund is increasingly plugging the gap where Government support in the form of benefits, Asylum Support and local community services is failing to meet people’s needs.

In an age when highly effective treatments mean people with HIV can live long and healthy lives, it is nothing short of a disgrace that HIV and poverty should still go hand in hand. Last year, one in every 40 people diagnosed with HIV applied to our Hardship Fund.

Changes to the welfare benefits systemThough HIV and poverty should not be directly linked, we know that factors such as illness, discrimination, stigma, social exclusion, uncertain immigration status, mental health issues and family breakdown can leave people with HIV needing extra support at certain points in their lives. Indeed, 25 per cent of people living with HIV are unemployed and claiming benefits.

Support through the welfare benefits system can help people to cover additional costs due to illness and unemployment, or help them get back on their feet and regain their independence.

But in recent years there have been changes to the qualifying criteria for Employment Support Allowance (ESA), and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has replaced Disability Living Allowance

(DLA). These are the two main benefits that people may receive because of their HIV status and many people living with HIV are significantly worse off.

The Government has said that it wants to further reduce the total budget by 20 per cent once the conversion from DLA to PIP is complete. A growing number will therefore see further reductions to their weekly income.

Lives on the lineMore than 15 years after antiretroviral medication transformed HIV into a manageable condition, lack of Government support is leaving too many people with HIV facing poverty.

Terrence Higgins Trust launches guide for those delivering services to older people living with HIVTerrence Higgins Trust’s Health, Wealth and Happiness project recently launched the first guide for adult and social care services on supporting older people living with HIV. Over 100 staff, volunteers and people aged over 50 with HIV attended the launch event at the Lumen Church in Bloomsbury, central London.

We were privileged to be joined by Lord Chris Smith, who spoke powerfully about his own experiences of living openly with HIV in the public eye. He gave strong support to Terrence Higgins Trust’s continued work on HIV and ageing and close work with adult and social care services. He also spoke eloquently about his own experiences as a person aged over 50 living with HIV.

The new guide, entitled: Good Practice: Information and Advice on Delivering Services to Over 50s Living With HIV, talks about the need for services working with older people to provide sensitive, high quality care for all older people, especially those living with HIV.

For more information about the guide - and to watch a short film containing interviews with project volunteers - visit the Health, Wealth and Happiness web pages: www.tht.org.uk/hwh

Free copies of the guide are also available by contacting Health, Wealth and Happiness: healthwealthandhappiness@tht.org.uk

Move your running feet this autumn for Terrence Higgins TrustHere at Terrence Higgins Trust we have secured spots in some of the country’s top half marathons and would love you to join our team. Whether you fancy a truly royal experience at the Windsor Half Marathon, or you want to be our Angel of the North at the world’s largest half marathon – the Great North Run – we are sure that we have got the perfect event to get your heart racing. For full information on how you can get involved in one of our fabulous runs and help to stop HIV in its tracks, visit www.tht.org.uk/running or contact the fundraising team at fundraising@tht.org.uk or by calling: 020 7812 1668.

Terrence Higgins Trust is running free Activism and Involvement workshops supporting people living with HIV to stand up for their rights and raise awareness of the issues that matter to them. The first workshop took place in Gloucester in March and more are planned in Scotland, Wales and the North of England.

Since the launch of our interactive website myHIV three years ago, a strong activism thread has emerged in the community forums. Many members have found ways to speak out publicly and call for better political and public understanding of HIV.

The workshops, which train members how to influence decision-makers and raise awareness, cover:

• treatment advocacy and clinical engagement • awareness-raising and personal activism • political campaigning and activism.

Garry Brough, our Membership and Involvement Officer and forum administrator, says: ‘It’s been thrilling to watch myHIV grow into a thriving community and to see members stand up and fight their corner. Since our pilot workshop, those who attended

have launched blogs and websites, given national media interviews and even addressed the United Nations.’

If you would like to attend a workshop please email: garry.brough@tht.org.uk

Giving in Celebration!Are you celebrating a wedding, civil partnership, anniversary, or birthday this spring? You could ask your friends and family to make a donation to Terrence Higgins Trust instead of (or as well as) giving you a present. We can supply gift cards, pins and red ribbons to offer your guests. Visit www.tht.org.uk/celebrate for further information or contact Emma Robinson on 020 7812 1612 or: emma.robinson@tht.org.uk

The Auction 2014On 12 March, the great and the good gathered at Christie’s in London, for Terrence Higgins Trust’s electrifying annual auction.

With guests including Jerry Hall, Dr Christian Jessen, Wayne Sleep and Grace Dent it was an evening of fierce bidding, cocktails and canapés. It was inspiring to see so many people coming together to raise over £300,000 - an overwhelming sum - for Terrence Higgins Trust.

The money raised is absolutely integral to ensuring that Terrence Higgins Trust can stop the spread of HIV. It enables us to continue to change attitudes towards HIV testing, persuade more people to test and get more people with HIV onto treatment. Thank you to all who came and made it such a special night.

With a gift in your will, you can help us be hereUntil the day people with HIV no longer face stigma. Until the day people no longer feel terrified and alone when they are diagnosed. Until the day people with HIV no longer struggle with poverty and ill health. Until the day we stop HIV in its tracks. A decade. A generation. A lifetime. However long it takes to win the fight against HIV, we know that in the years ahead we will need friends like you more than ever.

To request our free guide to leaving a gift to Terrence Higgins Trust in your will, please call Diane on 020 7812 1673, email diane.faure@tht.org.uk or visit: tht.org.uk/legacy

Walk for LifeJoin us and Walk for Life this summer. This year is the 25th annual 10k sponsored walking event - and we’re celebrating with a super theme: Heroes, Heroines and Villains. Whether you are ready to don your cape as a handsome hero or you’re a dastardly villain, we would love you to join us for a fantastic walk around central London on Sunday 8 June. Walk for Life raises money for our Hardship Fund supporting people living with HIV who are in poverty. For more information and to register visit: www.walkforlife.co.uk

World AIDS Day 2013We are delighted to announce that 2013’s World AIDS Day has raised over £36,000 so far - which is absolutely fantastic. A huge thank you for all your support, whether you were holding cake sales, having dress-down days or doing collections for us. We really appreciate your generosity.

Take part in our free ‘Activism and Involvement’ workshops

bread

v

Ben’s StoryBen from Scotland lost his DLA, although his mobility is still poor. He was no longer able to keep his motability car and could not get to appointments or go to the shops. With less money coming in Ben was not able to meet his monthly costs and he was beginning to struggle. The Hardship Fund gave Ben some money to help with everyday costs.

Photograph © artproemn/Shutterstock.com

The newsletter for Terrence Higgins Trust’s valued supportersMay 2014 | Issue 9

Photograph © bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock.com

Donate