New HIV Youth Website

Hello,

“Faith in people with HIV” was generously awarded funding from the Big Lottery to work on a youth led project with the young people’s group they work with.  The project was to develop a website that could act as a support mechanism to other young people who were living with HIV.

The site goes live 1^st December, 2010 and can be viewed at www.pozitude.co.uk the site does not require log in details, so can be viewed by all.  The young people have worked really hard to design their site and have given a lot of themselves to help others.  We hope you like the site and all feedback is welcomed.

Details are as follows

Faith in People with HIV
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (East Midlands of United Kingdom)
The Lodge
Margaret Road
Leicester
LE5 5FW
Tel: 0116 2733377
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.faithinpeople.org.uk

www.pozitude.co.uk

Kind Regards

Michelle Overton
Women and Families Support Worker
Faith in People with HIV
0116 2733377
[email protected]

Sports stars urge men to “do the right thing”

(PlusNews) – A team of top South African and international sportsmen will lend their star power to a campaign that promotes HIV prevention, and an end to violence against women and children.

South African football players Matthew Booth and Teko Modise, rugby captain John Smit, cricket captain Graeme Smith and international football stars Ryan Giggs of Manchester United and Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona have already signed up.

These sporting talents will be Sports Ambassadors for Brothers for Life, a national campaign encouraging men to take a stand against gender-based violence and HIV.

They will promote messages on television, radio and outdoor advertising about the risks of alcohol and unprotected sex in relation to HIV, and support a national HIV counselling and testing drive launched in April by President Jacob Zuma.

View full article

Kenyan refugees miss out on HIV services

Read more

LASS Training Sessions [September - December 2009]

1-)HIV SESSIONS

There are three sessions for people who want to know more about HIV.

SO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIV? WEDNESDAY 14TH OCTOBER 1-4PM

Objective: To provide in-depth information and knowledge about HIV, Testing and Early Detection.For people who want a deeper understanding and more clinical knowledge. A Rapid HIV test willbe available on the day.
Trainer: Luke Pringle – HIV Specialist Nurse

AN INTRODUCTION TO HIV. WEDNESDAY 28TH OCTOBER 1-2PM

Objective: To provide an introduction to HIV including HIV Testing. For people who need an overview and some key facts and information. A Rapid HIV test will be available on the day.
Trainer: Luke Pringle – HIV Specialist Nurse

LUNCHTIME STATISTICS AND TRENDS – WEDNESDAY 2ND DECEMBER 1PM – 2PM

Objective: To provide an update of the latest local HIV Statistics and Trends which we can use toinform our awareness and outreach work.
Trainer: Nia Reeves – Leicester City NHS

STIS AND HEPATITIS {Wednesday 18TH NOVEMBER 1.30PM – 4PM}

This session will provide information about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Hepatitis and their mode of transmission and prevention.

Objective: To provide general information about STIs and Hepatitis which participants can use to inform their client groups and co-workers as well as increase personal knowledge. This is for anyone who needs facts and information about STIs or Hepatitis in their work, volunteering or for personal interest
Trainer: Celia Fisher – LASS

2-)HIV, STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
WEDNESDAY 11th November and 9th December 2009 1.00 – 4.30PM

The session will provide information on HIV/AIDS and look at practical ways of addressing stigma and discrimination.

Objectives: To provide information about HIV, learn about and discuss the nature of stigma and discrimination in relation to HIV. To discuss and explore the impact of HIV stigma on individuals and the damage caused by people who stigmatise.
To explore ways that individual and collective interventions can help reduce HIV stigma and discrimination within various settings
Trainer: Geoff Lilley – LASS

HIV, ASYLUM & IMMIGRATION {WEDNESDAY 4th November 2009} 1.30 – 4.30PM

This session will enable participants to have an understanding of Asylum and Immigration implications for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Objectives:
To provide basic information and facts about HIV, with a focus on aspects related to or affected by asylum and immigration.
To provide information on the definitions and process related to asylum and immigration and explore issues and problems that people in this process may face.
Explore and discuss what measures and actions we, as individuals and as workers, can take. Find out about the Leicester City of Sanctuary movement.
Trainers: Celia Fisher (LASS) and Gill Buttery (or other) from Leicester City of Sanctuary.

3-)ROUND THE FIREPLACE
SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2009 1.00 –5.00 PM

“Round the fireplace” is an interactive session that will use mime, dialogue, music and storytelling to discuss freely and openly about HIV and stigma. Let us understand Stigma; the root cause; the effects and a way forward as a community in responding to HIV Stigma.
We will have a shared lunch at 1.00. Session will start at about 1.30pm.
Trainer: Musi Gloriosa Katerere

January – April 2010

Information and dates for the sessions in the ‘Spring’ term will be available in December 2009.

Please let us know if there are particular sessions you would like to see in the programme.

4-)LASS TRAINING APPLICATION FORM

An application form can be used to book a place on the LASS training programme.
To get one please contact:

LASS Training Bookings
The Michael Wood Centre
53 Regent Road
Leicester
LE1 6YF
e-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0116 255 9995
Fax: 0116 255 9979

Website: www.lass.org.uk

Heroes of HIV – a new series of IRIN short films

IRIN Films is pleased to announce the launch of “Heroes of HIV” – a powerful and moving new series of short films on HIV/AIDS.

The film profiles the work of people involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Their stories are sometimes sad, sometimes uplifting, always inspiring.

Click here to watch the films

The slang of sexual networks

Photo: IRIN

Are older men better boyfriends

(PlusNews) – Risky sexual behaviour has a language of its own on the University of Zimbabwe’s (UZ) campus in the capital, Harare.

When female students arrive, they join an informal sorority known as the “university spinster association”, or USA, while their male counterparts are inducted into the “university bachelor association”, or UBA.

Their sexual networks are coded in a slew of slang that, according to University of Pretoria researcher Tsitsi Masvawure, masks high-risk behaviours, including multiple concurrent partnerships and cross-generational sex, which facilitate the spread of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Masvawure presented the findings of her study, conducted over 15 months at UZ, where she also studied, at the Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Induction into these risk behaviours comes soon after orientation week, when the “gold rush” begins and first-year female students, perceived to be “sexually pure”, are targeted by older male students for a one-night stand, or “one-day international”.

These young women are categorized as “gold”, those in their second year as “silver”, and third-year female students are labelled “bronze” members of the USA.

Older female students often engage in multiple concurrent relationships, not to survive in cash-strapped Zimbabwe, but to secure access to luxury goods like expensive hair extensions or high-priced foodstuffs, or because they perceive older men to be better boyfriends, Masvawure told IRIN/PlusNews.

“UBAs are not romantic,” one young woman told Masvawure in an interview. “I don’t want you to rush … [in making] me yours; don’t rush, this is not a land reform programme.”

Younger male students also helped connect female friends with wealthier, older men, often finding potential sugar daddies at transport hubs en route to the university in Harare’s city centre – an exercise known as “pimping”.

“This disputes the traditional analysis that transactional sex is about money and sex, with boys giving money and girls giving sex. These girls were not from the poorest households, they were from families that, in some cases, were politically connected,” Masvawure noted.

She said her study revealed problems in HIV prevention programmes on campuses, and hoped it would lead to more targeted HIV interventions for students.

The government is looking to strengthen sex education to better equip young people before they reach tertiary level. A policy on adolescent sexual and reproductive health is expected to be released in two weeks.

LASS Launch Rapid HIV Testing in the Community

Put your mind at ease – know your HIV Status. From June 1st it is really easy and quick to know your status – by taking a Rapid HIV Test at LASS. The Free, Confidential, Rapid Testing service will be launched on Monday 1st June. Test results are available within a few minutes.

We offer a service that no-one else can at the moment – a friendly community location, away from the hospital or clinic, where you can get a confidential HIV test. We have HIV positive people who can talk to you if your test indicates you have HIV – someone who understands because they have been in the same situation.

Current statistics estimate that 30% of people who have HIV are undiagnosed. So we are committed to help change that number – by offering an alternative approach to testing and making rapid testing easier to access.

Celia, who is setting up the service at LASS says “Last Tuesday 17 of us took the test here at LASS – to practice using the kits as well as to determine our status. Perhaps a record number of simultaneous tests in Leicester? We are hoping that we will have a queue of people for the test once the service is established. It’s something everyone who is sexually active should do. We look after other aspects of our health so why not our sexual health”.

Tim Rideout, Chief Executive of NHS Leicester City, added “Early diagnosis of HIV has got a number of advantages for patients. It can help prevent them developing AIDS, as well as helping to ensure that the infection is not passed onto others. The sooner an individual is diagnosed with HIV the quicker treatment can begin, and with that comes a higher likelihood of a better prognosis. We welcome the introduction of this service and would encourage as many sexually active people as possible to take the test.”

For further information, please contact Celia Fisher Leicestershire AIDS Support Services: 0116 255 9995, [email protected] or visit www.lass.org.uk. LASS is a Registered Charity, number 1023914

If you want photos or coverage of someone taking the test let us know so that we can arrange it. National Statistics show that the HIV prevalence rate for Leicester City (2.83/1000 population) is among the highest in England. The publicity also shows a preview of the new LASS logo which will be launched later this year.

Safeguarding Children And Young People From Sexual Exploitation

Current Procedures

What is sexual exploitation

Sexual exploitation is sexual abuse and may involve physical and emotional harm.It is the exchange of sexual services for some form of payment such as money, drink, drugs, and accommodation.

Sexual exploitation exposes young people to all forms of abuse and assault, can damage their health and may even threaten their lives. It deprives them of their childhood, self-esteem and opportunities for good health, education and training.It results in social exclusion.

A parent or carer may be involved in sexual exploitation.Young people may involve other young people in sexual exploitation

What’s it all about

The realities of entering prostitution as a young woman or man

- Poverty, debt, social and economic inequality
- Negative family background
- Experiences of abuse and neglect
- Drug and Alcohol abuse
- Domestic Violence
- Isolation and lack of family and community support
- Environmental Factors such as housing
- Mental Health and Depression
- Education
- Stigma and myths regarding social services

Courtesy of The New Futures Project

Vulnerability factors

- Missing from care
- Missing from education
- Missing from home
- Homeless
- Unaccompanied Minor
- Mental health issues low self esteem/low confidence
- Drug and alcohol dependency
- Disenfranchised from family no support or affirmation
- Prior experience of sexual, physical or emotional abuse
- Poverty & destitution

Risk factors, signs and indicators

- Serious changes in behaviour  .
- Coming home with expensive gifts
- Frequently staying out late
- Repeated truanting, missing from home regularly or for long periods of time.
- Coming home after days or nights away, looking well-cared for even though they  have had nowhere to stay.
- Getting into trouble with the police, committing crimes.
- Bruises, marks on the body, sexually-transmitted diseases, pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse or self-harm.
- Repeated phone calls, letters, emails from adults outside family circle.
- Strangers hanging about outside home.
- Young people getting into cars with unknown adults.
- Associating with other young people known to be victims of sexual exploitation
- Friends at school and agencies expressing concern.
- Young people may try to tell you about their situation but not be able to.

What to do – Concerns about sexual exploitation

- Procedures for reporting concerns can be found in

http://www.lscb-llr.org.uk/index/procedures.htm
CH11 Safeguarding Children involved in Prostitution

- Refer concerns to children’s social care
Children and Young Peoples Service

- Contact  Local Area Duty points unless young person looked after in which case refer to named social worker

- Professionals are encouraged to consult/seek advice within own agency when they are concerned, especially when not sure they have enough ‘evidence’ or not sure about the risk indicators.

- When there are early stage concerns a referral should always be made to children’s social care for consultation and assessment

Local Area Duty Points

LEICESTER CITY
Duty and Assessment Service – 0116 2531191
LEICESTERSHIRE
Children and Family Access Team, Bassett St – 0116 2787111
HINCKLEY
01455636964
MELTON / MARKET HARBOROUGH
01664 564698
LOUGHBOROUGH
01509 266641
RUTLAND
Children’s Social care
01572 7584507
EMERGENCY DUTY SERVICE (5pm – 8.30am)
0116 2551606

Local Authority Response

- Decision made within 24 hours whether an initial assessment is required and within 7 days, whether a comprehensive (core) assessment is required.
- Core assessment completed within 35 working days and consider the child’s needs including their health and educational needs.
- Child protection enquiries should be initiated when the initial assessment recognises that the child/young person is being sexually exploited or likely to be and is at risk  of significant harm.
- Referral should be made to the Local Policing Unit and Child Abuse Investigation Unit to undertake joint enquires.
- A strategy meeting is held with professionals to plan the enquiry and level of  intervention

Handling Individual Cases

- Young person should be treated as a child in need and regarded as likely to be suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm.
- Services should be provided alongside the assessment.
- A child protection conference considered if at continuing risk of significant harm and their family unable to protect.
- A family group meeting considered as part of the child protection plan. Its task is to empower the family to use its own resources to produce a plan to protect the child.

- Other agencies must provide appropriate resources to support the plan.

New Guidance

- Draft guidance issued by DCSF 2008
- Now called Safeguarding Children and Young people from Sexual Exploitation
- Replaces Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution  DOH 2000
- New Guidance will help organisations to

*Develop local prevention strategies

*Identify those at risk

*Take action to safeguard and promote welfare

*Take action against those intent on abusing or exploiting.

Courtesy of Jill Randall 2008
[email protected]
0116 2528411

Thanks to Celia Fisher who provided all this information at the MAF meeting 10/02/09
Celia Fisher
LASS
Responding to the Challenges of HIV
0116 255 9995
07920 234 787
www.lass.org.uk

Home Office is failing HIV+ asylum seekers-Charity

A leading charity has said the government is not doing enough to help asylum seekers who are living with HIV or AIDS.

Crusaid revealed that 55% wait more than four years for a Home Office decision on their right to remain. During this time, many of them will lack the basic facilities to maintain their health.

The figures, contained a report sponsored by GlaxoSmithKlein’s Positive Action programme Poverty Without Borders, were released at Crusaid’s second HIV and Poverty conference earlier this week.

Speaking at the conference Neil Gerrard MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary group on Refugees, said:

“I think it is really striking – the change over the years of the number of people who are coming to the Crusaid Hardship Fund who are also in the immigration system.

“This degree of poverty is astounding. Fifty five percent is a shocking percentage and included in that would be people who even according to the regulations as tough as they are, should be getting health care.”

The National Audit Office announced this week that asylum applications were taking even longer to process, despite a government pledge to cut turn-around times.

Poverty Without Borders found that the vast majority of asylum seekers living with HIV and AIDS are unaware of their status before they reach this country.

Crusaid said that living in uncertainty and with a new diagnosis, this group can face serious health deterioration whilst they are unable pay for the necessities that would keep them fit.

“I’m afraid, sadly that there is evidence that people who suffer from stigma and discrimination do experience it from healthcare professionals,” said Mr Gerrard.

“We are told that this doesn’t happen, but there is evidence that it does. It’s a general problem and it’s not fair to say that it’s out there in the public and the health system is fine, I’m afraid that’s just not the case. There’s a real need for education for people working in healthcare.”

The Crusaid Hardship Fund supports some of the most vulnerable people in the UK today living with HIV and AIDS, many of whom have no recourse to any public funds, or the right to work and earn a living. – Pinknews.co.uk

“Rich or educated – anyone can get HIV”-Tendayi Westerhof

Harare – Former model Tendayi Westerhof is better known these days as a tough-talking HIV/AIDS activist. After testing HIV positive seven years ago, she left the modelling world to found the Public Personalities Against AIDS Trust (PPAAT) to encourage other public figures and celebrities to be open about their HIV status.

Photo: Kubatana

“I am living testimony that HIV knows no

Westerhof talked to IRIN/PlusNews about her decision to go public with her status and how she has stayed healthy.

“Coming out in the open about my HIV positive status was not an easy thing for me to do, but I knew I had to do so, whatever the consequences.

“I was once a very successful model and I was married to one of the most well-known soccer coaches in Zimbabwe. With this high social standing I could have decided otherwise about revealing my status, but I was driven by the need to help others, to show the world that HIV is not a disease for the poor and uneducated. I wanted to break that stereotype.

“I am living testimony that HIV knows no bounds; it doesn’t matter if you are rich, poor or educated – anyone can get HIV.

“I personally feel that the days of ridiculing others because they are HIV positive are over, because every one of us has been affected directly or indirectly by HIV/AIDS. Everyone who is sexually active is at risk, and people should not think it could never happen to them.

“I owe my good health to a balanced diet. I try as much as possible to eat the right and properly cooked foods but, like everyone else, I have not been spared by the economic crisis in Zimbabwe – the food shortages, the long bank queues and cash shortages. But I always try my best to stay in the right frame of mind because stress is the biggest enemy for anyone living with HIV.

“I also owe my good health to treatment – I am currently taking antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. I feel very lucky because many people in need of these life-saving drugs are not accessing them. Before, I used to buy the drugs on my own, but now I get them from the government programme.

“ARVs have given me a new lease of life, but sometimes your body becomes distorted in ways you may not understand. I have learnt to study my body and listen to what it wants, to reduce the way the side effects take a toll on me.

“I also owe my good health to the support of my four daughters. I know it’s not easy for them to be called children of an HIV-positive mother. When the time to take my drugs comes and I have forgotten, my daughters remind me.

“Sometimes my youngest daughter Aaliyah (6)- our miracle baby, who was born after I tested HIV positive and is negative – brings me a glass of water and says, ‘Mummy here is your medicine’, and my heart just melts away.

“Testing HIV positive is not the end of the world. I am glad that I have been given a chance to enjoy my life as a person living with HIV, and that I have been able to see my children grow.

“I travel the world to summits and workshops, and deliver testimonies on this. I know I have inspired many people, and would like to continue doing this. The sky is the limit for me.” – Plusnews

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