If you read the last issue of Positive Nation you will have seen an article about the launch of a podcast service called Positive Life. This is now live and can be found at http://positivelife.me.uk/ .
The Terrence Higgins Trust have launched a new site for "Men who have Sex with Men". Called "HardCell", http://www.hardcell.org.uk/ , the site is explicit in nature and therefore adults only.
If I can make an observation here. I notice that the THT branding is not very prominent on this site. I wonder why? I also note that THT has been launching many new services this month. Maybe the letter writing works.
As always where I find a link that maybe of interest I will add it to the Links pages. None of the links are of course a recommendation you must make up your own mind about the provider of any service.
My interest here is that I would like to hear from you, good & bad, about your experiences.
PDF version
Comments
Sorry to the sender for any problem posting a comment. The webs system was updated yesterday.
"Keep up the good work T-Cell and in relation to the comment about THT and it's profile/branding on this site, I think the answer is self-evident to all of us currently living with the impact of the welfare reform programmes, as is THT's dismissive attitude to our predicament. I wonder how we should hold them to account? They after all are the HIV organisation who were and are being CONSULTED about policies relating to OUR futures along with those other organisations representing others with differing disabilities.If their remit is around HIV prevention and Health promotion and not really concerned with advocacy issues for long-term survivors (as desperate callers seeking help around the RPP recently discovered) then why should they be speaking on our behalf and in discussion/negotiation with the DWP and DOH in any forum where policy impacting on long -term survivors is debated?.If it is to truly reflect and relate to the needs of those affected I for one should like to see someone other than Lisa Power (formerly Powell) advocating on my and others behalf. Perhaps THT would like to suggest to Messrs. Purnell and Johnson the co-option of a member of T-Cell to be present at all future meetings where discussion of any policies that affect long term survivors or any salvage patients etc. regardless of duration of infection. Perhaps they would like to stand-down in favour of a more appropriate representative or take the bull by the horns and fight our corner with some conviction.
Ah! yes another chevron of aeronautical porcines take wing!"
It was expressed to me by Baroness Gould that THT rather than shout from the sidelines adopt the position of "a critical friend of government". She also rightly pointed out that THT and other organisations are not necessarily going to win every battle. That is true BUT where are the arguments & case THT put forward to government as its critical friend? Why when many faced the New Year with a DBD551 from the DWP. Was there no mention of the DLA on the THT website instead a You Tube video of Nick Partridge at 10 Downing Street? THT's reaction here has been in response to our campaigning. Wholly reactive when they were the only HIV group in our community that new what was coming and had the resources to be completely proactive.
This year has been a learning curve for me and I continue to be humbled by the groups of my HIV peers I meet. Also there are many small groups all patient/service user/volunteer led like us that are forming. Unfortunately funding stifles most and the diversity needed to ensure accountability has diminished over the last few years.
Funding is also an issue that is used to divide the community service provision. With so many groups competing for money it's structure doesn't encourage partnership on a project by project basis.
Long term survivors, those who are now Ageing with HIV etc.. are becoming a pretty vocal bunch which is great to see. Many of these were part of the early pioneers of the services etc we as HIV people access to day.
We keep accountability by joining together on issues we have and use that collective voice to make the case.
Post new comment