Rallying the troops for Positive East.
This post is on behalf of Positive East, a charity in east London with whom I have been involved for over five years. Positive East provides vital support services to people living with or affected by the HIV virus, and also provides community sexual health services in order to further limit the spread of the virus. Along with other organisations, Positive East has helped suppress the spread of HIV in London in recent years whilst continuing to support those affected by the virus. Positive East provide services including support groups, information and advice, specialised services for HIV+ women, peer support, health and wellbeing services, sexual health testing and outreach and counselling and psychotherapy (which includes my modest contribution). I have really enjoyed my work with Positive East over the years, and as such, will take the opportunity to share my favourite photo of me with some of the team, before this post gets too serious…..
Me with Resty, Yan, Alix and Antonio at the Red Run in East London
Communities affected by high levels of the HIV virus, such as the black African community, gay men, and transwomen, are too familiar with the devastating affects a pandemic. can have, when not properly mitigated, on both individual lives and wider communities The HIV pandemic has taken the lives of over 30 million people. For me, this number is still too large to comprehend, even against the backdrop of daily bulletins detailing the ever increasing cases of covid-19………30 Million People since HIV emerged in the 1980s.
Unfortunately, as we battle our society’s most recent pandemic, the charity has suffered financially as the effects of the lockdown restrictions have caused the cancellation of many of the charity’s fundraising activities in dealing with the HIV pandemic - which never went away.
Not least. the annual World Aids Day Red Run in Hackney - a wonderful community event that usually enjoys wide ranging support, including from the likes of Sadiq Khan, mayor of London and Sir Ian McKellen. Anyone that has attended in the past will understand the hole it leaves in the calendar for anyone associated with Positive East or the wider community. More concerning is the money…..
Despite having an army of loyal volunteers, the provision of Positive East’s services cost money; there is sadly no way to avoid this uncomfortable truth. Without their premier fundraising event, a potential shortfall on the charity’s balance sheet puts its essential services in danger; for this reason, they have launched the I Stand With Positive East campaign: a call to arms to those that are able to support the organisation in this way.
If anyone reading this is about to lend some support to the campaign, please click the button at the end of this post. Alternatively if you are living with HIV and are registered at an East London clinic you can get in touch with the fabulous team at Positive East by clicking here.
Thank you so much for reading. C