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TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

This is the question we often ask ourselves at the UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and Aids (UKC). In an ideal world we would be very happy to close our doors and look for pastures greener...but only when HIV is no longer a threat to our lives, our well-being and the lives of others.
However, I do feel it is naïve to assume that, without a thriving HIV voluntary sector and the strong organisations that exist, pharmaceutical - or any other - companies would simply pour their money straight into the pockets of people with HIV. It's because of the involvement of people with HIV at all levels of the voluntary sector that we have been able to lobby, advocate and achieve so much.
Contrary to the belief of Robin and probably others, our funding is not derived from 'corporate bribes'. On 5 November last year The Guardian commented: "Less than five per cent of the total charitable and voluntary sector donations made each year in Britain come from the business sector". That's £1 out of every £250 they make in profit. And it's easier raising funds for retired donkeys (cute as they are), or indeed almost any other cause, than it is for people living (and still dying) with HIV and Aids.

Last year, the corporate support for the UKC (including Positive Nation) in the form of sponsorship, community project funding and unrestricted