Paul De'Ath, adult guidance worker from Positive
Futures (PF), the groundbreaking collaboration between five HIV agencies
in London.
PF has been running for 12 months; in that time Paul has seen over 300
people. The project is about finding the right balance for each person
as an individual, he said, and helping people plan for their own future
based on realistic expectations.
A longer life expectancy means that many people are now re-evaluating
what to do with their future and PF is now giving priority to training
opportunities, work placements and career management.
Mother-of-four Norah Nzanana, originally from Burundi, explained that
her husband died in 1996 and she herself was
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Jack Summerside, head of THT's Living
diagnosed in 1998.
"I went into Positively Women, I first met someone who was also HIV
positive and I realised I was not alone."
Norah is now working at PW: "People who haven't tried out the Positive
Futures service should try it, it's very helpful."
Mark Hedley, from Tyne and Wear, explained that when he found out he was
positive in 1998 he came out to colleagues at work in a local supermarket
where he was manager. But he was forced to take legal action against his
employers for
discrimination and unfair dismissal.
"They were completely ignorant," Mark said: "They said
sales would suffer
