A CHARITY in Berkshire is getting started on a new project aiming to reduce isolation and tackle stigma head on for HIV positive and LGBTQIA+ people.
Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS) has worked with people affected by HIV and providing LGBTQ+ support as a charity across the county for over 40 years.
Now it has begun work on a new project, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, with a focus on reducing isolation, tackling stigma, building confidence and ensuring that lived experience helps shape the services and systems that affect people’s lives.
TVPS has hosted conversations and activities, participants are able to connect with others who understand their experiences, with a view to supporting both communities through better confidence and resilience.
It is also furthering the charity’s efforts in letting those voices shape its work, as well as beyond TVPS, through its collaboration with healthcare providers, public services, and organisations across the county.
Sarah Macadam, CEO of TVPS, said: “We are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund and to National Lottery players for making this project possible. It has been fantastic to see the project taking shape and people coming together, connecting and sharing their experiences.
“Too many people living with HIV and members of the LGBTQIA+ community still experience stigma, discrimination and isolation. This project gives people a space where they can feel safe, valued and empowered to be themselves, while making sure lived experience plays a central role in improving services and reducing inequalities across Berkshire.”
John*, a TVPS service user, said: “For me, living with HIV and being part of the LGBTQIA+ community has sometimes felt like carrying two layers of stigma. That’s exactly why this project is needed, to bring us together and make sure our voices help shape the services we rely on.”
* The contributor’s name has been changed to protect anonymity
