Compiled
and edited
by Martin Flynn
Blackliners: 'We will continue'
page 1 of 8
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country setting up similar schemes over the next 3 years.
Blackliners, the South London-based organisation for black people with
HIV has been forced to cut eight out of its 25 staff posts after the discovery
of a major gap in its finances, and the resignation of its director and
treasurer, reports Gus Cairns.
Blackliners is the largest HIV and sexual health organisation in
Dawn Hill and Kojo Torunarigha
the UK servicing all black communities. Blackliners chair, Dawn Hill,
told Positive Nation: "Our services will continue, but on a reduced
basis."
This April the Department of Health gave Blackliners a £100,000
'sustainability award' to cover some of the immediate deficit. At the
time, director Patricia Blackwood said: "The award will go some way
to redress the historic underfunding of our core costs."
But in fact, Blackwood resigned on 23 April and has not been seen at the
offices since. The treasurer also resigned and has since been replaced.
Dawn Hill said: "Basically, we were paying people for posts we had
not secured funding for." And an accountant called in to sort out
the finances commented: "This organisation is being run with emotion
and not with the head."
Hill stressed that core services would continue: "Our biggest team,
the social care team, is intact and has funding. This will continue providing
housing and benefits advice, advocacy, emotional support, and fortnightly
food and clothing packages to
clients in need. Our 'Players Club' sexual health outreach team and our
