HIV Activists Campaigns Archive

This World AIDS Day we are asking you to contact your local MP to encourage them to take some easy actions to show their support for people living with HIV and improve people's understanding of the condition.

We want MPs to:

• Wear the red ribbon NAT have sent them next week during the run up to World AIDS Day (1 December).
• Download the "Five Facts" everyone should know about HIV, and then share these facts on their website, press release them and show their support by tweeting about what they have done to mark World AIDS Day.

To take the action please fill in your postcode below

What are the Issues:

The BBC currently bans the wearing of the World AIDS Day red ribbon by presenters. We believe that BBC presenters, like their guests, should be free to mark World AIDS Day.

We are concerned by the BBC's stance on this issue, and the idea that certain stars may have been disciplined by the BBC for wearing a red ribbon: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25317116

Given HIV-related stigma and discrimination persists, seeing celebrities wearing a red ribbon around World AIDS Day challenges prejudice and sends out a really positive message for those living with the condition.

In these times of low public awareness of HIV in the UK , if someone feels passionately enough to want to wear a ribbon that should be encouraged, not penalised. We believe the BBC's current rules which ban the wearing of red ribbons around World AIDS Day are illogical and unfair.

In the same way that presenters may wear the poppy, we believe there is an extremely strong case for exempting the red ribbon from any BBC policy preventing the wearing of awareness ribbons and symbols. The red ribbon is a well known international symbol used around the world and in the UK to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.

How can I get involved:

You can take part in this campaign by using the form below to send an email to Lord Hall, Director General of the BBC, asking him to lift the ban on presenters wearing poppies.

Take action now

What Difference will it make?

Your email could encourage the BBC to rethink their policy on their presenters wearing red ribbons and do more to raise awareness about HIV.

What are the issues?

Last year, NAT published a report into HIV and police occupational health guidance and blood-borne virus (BBV) training. During our research we found, as well as some good practice, significant policy gaps in areas such as HIV transmission, confidentiality, and HIV treatment and symptoms. Guidance also often included information that was: inaccurate, out of date, conflated the different transmission risks between BBVs, used inappropriate and discriminatory language, or perpetuated many HIV myths.

NAT, has responded to this report and our ongoing concerns in this area, by producing a new publication called: 'HIV: A Guide for Police Forces - How to address HIV in police occupational health policies and blood-borne virus (BBV) training'. The guide has been endorsed by the British HIV Association (BHIVA) which is the leading professional medical association for HIV care in the UK.

As well as making sure the police are properly trained about HIV, campaigning on this issue is also important because all too often in purported HIV exposure cases involving the police, and then reported in the media, there is an inflated view of the risk of HIV transmission. This can lead to inaccurate information about the risk of HIV transmission, fuelling fear about HIV and leading to discrimination and stigma against people living with HIV.

NAT is now sending this new guidance to police forces across the UK, calling on them to improve their training and guidance on HIV. We would like the help of the HIV Activist Network to ensure that this important issue is addressed by the police where you live.

How can I get involved?

If you live in England and Wales we would like you to email your local Police and Crime Commissioner who is elected to hold the police to account using this template email.
In London the system is slightly different as the Mayor of London is responsible for the Metropolitan Police and the City of London has a separate commissioner.

If you live in Scotland and Northern Ireland you are served by single police services who are accountable to local police authorities/boards, so we are asking you to use the same template email and contact the Chair of the relevant Board/Authority.

The email asks them to make sure that the police in your area have up-to-date information on HIV in their blood-borne virus training and occupational health guidance, which should also improve the way people living with HIV are served by the police.

To find out who to write to and their contact details, please use our police database.
If you are in any doubt about who to write to, please search for your local council in the database and you will find the details of your local police force and the Police and Crime Commissioner or relevant person. There are separate sections in the database for England and Wales, London, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

What difference will it make?

Taking part in this campaign will:

- Ensure that the police where you live know that this is an issue local people care about, adding to the impact of NAT's work to promote and disseminate the new guidance and making sure the police to use it to improve their training and guidance.

- Improve the quality and accuracy of guidance and training on HIV available to police officers and staff.

- Improve how the police treat people living with HIV - reducing stigma and discrimination.

Further information and resources:

HIV: A guide for police forces- is a new easy to use guide for the police that NAT has published to improve the way HIV is addressed in police occupational health policies and blood borne virus (BBV) training.

In June 2012, NAT published a policy briefing called 'Police occupational health policies and blood borne virus training: protecting health?'. The briefing explored our research into the way HIV was addressed in police blood borne virus training and occupational health polices. It includes evidence from the 15 police forces who responded to our request for information.
Social Media

The shortened url for easy sharing is http://tinyurl.com/NATPoliceCampaignand the hashtag is #NATPoliceCampaign (and don't forget to tell us if you have taken part via @NAT_AIDS_Trust)
Need more help?

Get in touch with [email protected]

As part of our work to promote World AIDS Day 2012, the National AIDS Trust has written to every Member of Parliament enclosing a red ribbon, information about National HIV Testing Week and to English MPs information about our shadow HIV strategy: ‘HIV – a strategy for success’.

What are the issues?

• We need to see more national HIV leadership.
• It is over thirty years since the first cases of HIV were diagnosed and in 2012 there are almost 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK of which 25% of them remain undiagnosed. In recent years, 50% of people who have been diagnosed with HIV were diagnosed late, putting them at greater health risk and increasing the chance they might inadvertently pass on HIV.
• Despite the growing number of people living with HIV, public knowledge and awareness of HIV is declining and people living with HIV continue to experience stigma and discrimination in relation to their status.
• HIV has never respected local, national or international boundaries – now more than ever we need to see a coordinated response from Government that sees HIV not just as a sexual health issue, but also looks to address HIV in a holistic way, fighting stigma and improving the lives of people living with HIV as a long-term condition.
• In 2001 the UK signed the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS, pledging to take action to tackle HIV both in the UK and internationally (a pledge renewed in 2011). This included a commitment to develop a comprehensive strategy to address all the different aspects of HIV. Yet, the last national strategy for sexual health and HIV in England expired in 2010. As other countries take the lead on this issue, with the US, South Africa and France recently launching HIV strategies we risk failing behind.

In the absence of clear HIV leadership from the Department of Health the National AIDS Trust (NAT) has produced a shadow HIV strategy for England: ‘HIV – a strategy for success’.

How can I help?

We are asking activists to contact their MP to encourage them to wear the red ribbon they have been sent by NAT to show support for people living with HIV; promote National HIV Testing Week; and if they represent an English constituency to read: ‘HIV – a strategy for success’ and if they support the need for a strategy to write to Secretary of State for Health calling for one.

What difference will it make?

• It will encourage Members of Parliament to raise HIV awareness and wear a red ribbon in Parliament this week and in their constituency on World AIDS Day.
• If you live in England and contact your MP it will promote the need for a national HIV strategy for England.and encourage MPs to read: ‘HIV – a strategy for success’ and raise the issue in Parliament or write to the Secretary of State for Health.
• It will raise awareness of World AIDS Day and National HIV Testing Week.
• It will allow you to find out more about what your MP is doing to mark this World AIDS Day.

Further information and resources:

• Download a template email if you live in England or an email if you live in Northern Ireland Wales or Scotland to send to your MP asking them to show HIV leadership.
• Use your postcode and the Find your MPtool on the UK Parliament website to find out who is your MP and then click here to find their email address.
• Please download and read a copy of NAT’s Shadow HIV Strategy: ‘HIV – a strategy for success’.
• Read more about the importance of HIV testing by visiting NAT’s publications page on Prevention and Testing.
• To find out more about National HIV Testing Week 23-30 November including how and where to get tested visit THT’sNational Testing Week website or in Scotland THT and HIVScotland’s work in Glasgow.

Need more help?

• Get in touch with NAT at [email protected] or 0207 814 

From April 2013, most commissioning (planning and paying for health and social care services) will be done at a local level.  As HIV is a specialised condition, commissioning for treatment and care will be done centrally by the NHS Commissioning Board.  However, all other services relevant to HIV including prevention, testing, social care and other health needs will be decided locally.  The plans that are made for these services will depend upon the results of the local Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

Take five minutes to find out how your council is considering the needs of people living with and at risk of HIV in the JSNA, and how they are involving people living with HIV in the process.

What are the issues:

• All planning of healthcare and social care in a local area has to be done within the framework of a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

• The Health and Social Care Bill 2012 transforms the way all NHS and social care services are commissioned.  Important decisions will now be made predominantly at a local level.  There are a number of different organisations responsible for commissioning (planning and paying for) the various aspects of health and social care, but they are expected to come together in a local authority's Health and Wellbeing Board.  

• The Health and Wellbeing Board will undertake a JSNA to assess the health and social care needs of their local population.  The JSNA will also be the basis of a strategy (known as the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy or JHWS) to meet those needs.  All the more detailed decisions then made about service priorities and planning have to be in line with the JSNA and the resulting JHWS.

• So it is really important to make sure now - as local authorities are working on their JSNA - that they are thinking about the needs of people with HIV and the communities most affected by HIV. 

How Can I help?

• Email your local councillor(s) to ask for an update on your local JSNA, how HIV is being considered, and how people with HIV and relevant local organisations can get involved. 

• Use the information you receive to get involved with planning services in your area and encourage other people living with and affected by HIV in your community to do the same.   You might want to share the findings with your local HIV organisation.

What difference will it make?

• Get decision-makers in your local area thinking about HIV now, so that the needs of people living with and affected by HIV will be met by their commissioning plans from 2013.
• It might well make the difference between HIV being taken seriously in your local area and being neglected.
• Increase the involvement of people living with HIV in decision-making about the services that are relevant to them.

Further information and resources

• Find out contact details for your local councillor.
• Download the template letter which you can amend or add to and email to your local councillor
• Download NAT’s factsheet The New Approach To The NHS, Public Health and Social Care

Need more help?

• Get in touch with NAT at [email protected] or 0207 814 6767

• Around 8% of people diagnosed with TB in the UK are co-infected with HIV. Evidence suggests that TB can make HIV worse, so diagnosis of both conditions is very important.
• Nearly a third of people with HIV are unaware of their status. Late diagnosis can have a negative impact on health and increase the risk of transmitting HIV.
• Settings with universal HIV testing, like antenatal clinics, have  been very effective in increasing HIV diagnoses. Uptake is as  high as 90% in TB clinics where HIV testing is offered universally.
• We know some HIV and TB clincians work together very effectively, but this is not universal. Despite the  Guidelines recommending offering universal HIV testing in TB clinics, a recent study found that although testing rates have increased from 2005, they were still at only 43% in 2009 and the publication of the BHIVA guidelines had not lead to a significant improvement in testing.

• Email the British Thoracic Society (BTS) asking them to promote the BHIVA testing  Guidelines to their members to ensure the  Guidelines are implemented in TB clinics.
• Download the template email here.  

• Encourage BTS to promote universal HIV testing in TB clinics, increasing HIV diagnoses in these settings.
• Improve HIV testing rates, reducing the level of undiagnosed and late diagnosed HIV.

• Get in touch with NAT at [email protected] or 0207 814 6767

Welfare reform and the changes to housing policy are significantly altering both the way housing is allocated, and, due to the cuts in housing benefit, the resources available to people living with HIV who need to apply for housing support from their local authority.

We would like HIV Activists to contact their local councillor and ask them how their local authority is responding to these changes, and help make the case to them that the housing needs of people living with HIV should be a priority.

People living with HIV and other disabled people should be able to expect that their housing needs will be properly assessed, and that they should continue to receive the housing support they need to lead healthy and independent lives.

While welfare reform affects the whole of the UK, the changes to housing allocations only affect England, which means this is a campaign directed at English Councils. If you don't live in England and want to campaign on benefit issues please take a look at some of our other campaigns.

What are the issues?

• The Government has made substantial changes to the level of housing benefit available, including extending the shared room rate up to the age of 35, and introducing the ‘bedroom tax’.
• While councils have to implement these changes, they have also been allocated funding by the Government called the ‘Discretionary Housing Payment’ (DHP), which is designed to provide support for people affected by reductions in their housing benefit. The funding for DHP is unlikely to cover everyone affected by these changes, and people applying for DHP will be assessed on a needs basis by their local authority.
• The Localism Act 2011 allows local councils greater freedom in how they allocate social housing through their local allocations polices. They can for instance now choose to discharge their homelessness duties into private sector accommodation and make greater use of properties outside of the local area.
• These changes could all have a significant impact on people living with HIV, from increasing the chance they may end up living in unsuitable shared accommodation to being forced to move away from their HIV support organisations and their HIV clinic.

How can I get involved?

• You can email your local councillor using this downloadable email template to ask them to raise these issues with your local council to ensure they support the needs of people living with HIV.
• To find out who your local councillors you can use:
• Writetothem.com or
• DirectGov

What difference will it make?

• It will help ensure that the issue of housing and HIV is considered by local councillors who will be making decisions about local housing allocations policy.
• The responses you receive will help NAT understand how local councils are responding to the changes to housing and benefits, giving NAT more information as they campaign to ensure that councils take into account the housing needs of people living with HIV are taken into account.

Further information and resources:

• NAT Policy Briefing on Housing and HIV which explores the changing housing advice needs of people living with HIV in February 2013, and the views of the local HIV organisations that support them.
• In 2010, NAT, alongside Shelter and Chartered Institute of Housing, published ‘Housing and HIV: a practical guide for housing officers on HIV and its impact on housing needs’ aimed at improving the way they assess the needs of people living with HIV.
• A 2009 NAT report into Housing and HIV

If you need further information on housing or benefits please visit the relevant sections on NAT’s website.

More detailed information on changes to housing benefit can be found on Shelter’s website.

Need more help?

Get in touch with [email protected]

People living with HIV who have strong religious beliefs can be seriously affected by the reactions of their faith community.  If a person feels they have the support and understanding of their community, this is likely to have a really positive impact on the way they manage their HIV and stay healthy through treatment.  However, if a person is rejected or unsupported they may become isolated and are less likely to stay well.

Misinformation and negative messages within faith communities can feed stigma. Stigma can be a real barrier to getting tested for HIV, as well as making it difficult for people living with HIV to be open about their HIV positive status.  Talk to your faith leader about how your place of worship can provide support to people living with HIV and promote prevention and testing initiatives in your community. 

What are the issues?

• Many HIV positive people find religion can really help them deal with the challenges of living with HIV, and places of worship are a real source of emotional, spiritual and practical support.
• However, others experience negative attitudes and HIV-related prejudice in their faith community, causing feelings of guilt and shame, anxiety, isolation, low self esteem and depression. This can badly affect how well someone adheres to their HIV treatment and deals with their condition in the long term.
• This prejudice can also make community members more reluctant to test for HIV, which means more people with HIV go undiagnosed, increasing the risk of onward transmission. 
• Faith leaders are in a unique position to educate and challenge this prejudice. Their views are influential in their communities, and send a clear message that HIV stigma is harmful to individuals and their community can have a real impact.

How can I get involved?

• Speak to your faith leader about the role they are playing in promoting HIV awareness within your community.
• Find out about the support offered to members of your faith community who are living with or are affected by HIV.
• Begin using your place of worship as a way of connecting your faith community with local HIV testing and support services.

What difference will it make?

• Speaking to your faith leader will help increase awareness of HIV within the community and challenge any misconceptions and negative attitudes.
• This will also help people living with HIV feel supported by their faith community.

Further information and resources

• The African Health Policy Network, through the NAHIP programme, has developed resources for Christian and Muslim faith leaders and African community-based organisations. You can request a copy of the tool kit for either Christian or Muslim faith communities at [email protected]

Need more help?

Get in touch with NAT at [email protected] or 020 7814 6767.

There continue to be reports of traumatising and groundless investigations about transmission of HIV by the police, despite the existence of national guidance in England and Wales to prevent this. 

Write to your local Police Authority to draw their attention to this Investigation Guidance and to end inappropriate investigations.

What are the issues?

• People living with HIV can be prosecuted for reckless or intentional transmission of HIV and face police investigations. Police investigations sometimes occur even when it is clear nobody could be prosecuted and are sometimes conducted in a stigmatising manner.
• Guidance for England and Wales was produced in 2010 by the Association of Police Officers (ACPO) in consultation with NAT to help police when investigating allegations of criminal transmission of HIV. This Guidance provides police officers with basic facts about HIV and advice on how to deal with complaints in a sensitive manner. NAT is now working with others to develop similar guidelines in Scotland.
• Despite the existence of this Guidance there are still reports of people living with HIV being arrested, taken into custody without their medication and having their confidentiality compromised when there is no evidence that they have committed a crime.
• This is an equalities issue as people living with HIV are considered disabled and are disproportionately from gay and black communities.
• NAT want to make sure police officers are fully aware of the ACPO Guidance so bad practice comes to an end and people living with HIV are treated fairly and with respect.

How can I get involved?

• Write to the Chair of your local Police Authority to draw their attention to the ACPO Investigation Guidance on Criminal Transmission of HIV and ask them to ensure all relevant officers comply with the Guidance.

What difference will it make?

• Your letter could lead to fewer people living with HIV being unnecessarily arrested for transmission of the virus by helping to end inappropriate police investigations.
• Your letter could ensure that when they are considered necessary, police officers investigate allegations in a way which is respectful of human rights and confidentiality.
• Find contact details for the Chair of your Police Authority here.
• Download the template letter which you can amend and email to the Chair of your local Police Authority here.

Need more help?

Get in touch with NAT at [email protected] or 020 7814 6767.

HPA figures show more than half of people diagnosed with HIV in 2009 were diagnosed late – after the point at which they should have started treatment – and a quarter of people living with HIV in the UK remain undiagnosed.  Not enough people are testing regularly for HIV and national testing guidelines are not being consistently followed. 

There are 6,000-7,000 new HIV diagnoses each year.  HIV prevention must be recognised as a health priority for England as the need to ensure effective HIV prevention services is greater now than it has ever been.  Effective commissioning is essential for HIV prevention to be properly funded, with resources meeting need and supporting activities which make a real difference. 

Write to your local PCT and find out what they are doing to increase the number of people being tested for HIV and how they are tackling HIV prevention in your area.

What are the issues?

• The most recent figures on HIV from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveal that the number of diagnoses of HIV transmission occurring in the UK remain high, with no indication as yet of a decline.
• The take-up rate of HIV testing in sexual health clinics is 77%, which is still too low, and HIV testing rates amongst the groups most affected (including gay and bisexual men and African men and women) need to be increased. 
• There are agreed national guidelines for HIV testing these are not being consistently implemented.
• Health care professionals also need to be proactive in offering tests outside of the sexual health clinic setting, including in GP practices. To do this well they need to be trained in the signs of primary HIV infection, as well as be aware of levels of HIV prevalence in their area and who the at-risk groups are.
• We want local areas to undertake needs assessments to understand what is needed to reduce HIV transmission in their local community.
• We want to see a significant rise in HIV prevention expenditure across the UK to meet the increased needs of all communities affected by HIV.

What difference will it make?

• Increase awareness and encourage implementation of the UK National Guidelines for HIV testing and encourage implementation of these
• Improve HIV testing rates and therefore reduce the level of undiagnosed and late-diagnosed HIV.
• Raise awareness of the importance of needs assessments and encourage your PCT to undertake one.
• Increase targeted HIV prevention for at-risk communities.

Further information and resources

• You can find details of your PCT by searching either by name, location or postcode on the NHS Choices website.
• Download the template letter below and write to your local PCT.

Need more help?

Get in touch with NAT at [email protected] or 020 7814 6767.