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Honours for poz-led project
A top award for a back-to-work project run
by and for positive people is a win for us all living with the virus, writes
Michael Laffan
the
achievements of people living with HIV often go unrecognised.
Mainstream media coverage of HIV tends towards the negative at best, and sensationalist
at worst.
We’re either portrayed as victims or monsters while HIV organisations
are forced to compete for coverage with many other fashionable causes.
It was therefore a great moment at the end of last year when a national newspaper
chose to honour the work of a ground-breaking programme led by people living
with HIV.
On 6 December, the Ensuring Positive Futures (EPF) programme was named winner
of The Guardian’s Public Service Award for Service Delivery in the long-term
conditions category, sponsored by MS Society.
The award sent out a strong signal to all people living with HIV that we count;
we make a difference and we matter.
How it helps
EPF comprises 24 partners including national HIV organisations like UKC and
National Aids Trust, local HIV groups like SHIELD in South Yorkshire and large
NGOs like the Disability Rights Commission.
Every partner organisation tests different ways to support people with HIV
back into work and/or helps us stay there. This is achieved by rebuilding
self-esteem and challenging HIV discrimination at work; helping employers
and trade unions understand HIV as a workplace issue and lobbying government
to put HIV on the agenda.
EPF’s work has benefited thousands of people living with HIV through
its programme of employer training, individual skills development and retraining.
UKC set up Centre for Living, where people out of work with low confidence
and self-esteem can use tailored gym programmes or take part in specialist
gardening projects.
Marcus joined a gardening project after being on Incapacity Benefit for six
years.
“I was sceptical. I thought this was going to be a standard back-to-work
programme. After six years of doing nothing I didn’t think I was good
at anything.
“I never thought I was particularly green-fingered, but now I’m
teaching people how to grow herbs and flowers. If you’d told me that
six months ago, I’d have laughed at you.”
EPF programme director Andrew Little said: “One client was unable to
answer the phone because her confidence was so low. Volunteering helped rebuild
her confidence and she now works as a receptionist.”
Back then
EPF started life in the 1990s as UKC’s ‘Back to Work’ project.
Run by a handful of volunteers and one temporary staff member, the project
was soon overwhelmed by demand as improvements in treatment meant more HIV
positive people felt well enough to work. It was time to expand and get others
involved.
Andrew Little played a key role in getting all the HIV organisations around
the table: “Rather than have every HIV charity organising their own
projects we joined forces to better support people living with HIV.”
Originally six charities formed EPF. These were later joined by trade unions,
employers, colleges and government bodies.
Presenting the award, Kirsty Wark, of BBC’s Newsnight, said: “Managing
24 partners - anyone deserves an award for that.”
Partners contribute in a variety of ways. Vauxhall City Farm allows people
living with HIV to learn skills at their new eco-centre; arbitration service
ACAS gave HIV training to all its staff using their employment helpline; Positive
Action South-West has worked with employers throughout the south-west of England.
Deborah Jack of the National Aids Trust explained EPF’s strength lays
in its ability to work on so many different levels: “The award recognises
the impact of our shared voice,” she said.
It was a win for the partnership but more than that it was a win for all HIV
positive people.
• Find out more at www.e-pf.org.uk
EPF partners:
UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS
(lead partner)
ACAS
City and Guilds
Dhiverse (Cambridge)
Disability Rights Commission
The General Federation of Trade Unions
George House Trust (Manchester)
Helios Foundation
Musicians Union
National Aids Trust
Northern College
MadaboutArt
Positive Action South West
Positive East
Positively Women
Ribbons Centre
(Southampton)
Roots and Shoots
Shield (South Yorkshire)
Summit Skills Council
Terrence Higgins Trust
UK e Learning
Vauxhall City Farm
Waverley Care
