Compiled
and edited
by Martin Flynn
Stressing that most of the 35,500 positive people in Britain live in
London and most of them are of working age, Livingstone called on the
capital's employers to take a lead.
Positive Futures director Andrew Little emphasised that although people
with HIV are "living longer and living well" due to treatments,
they still face barriers at work. He was delighted with the mayor's support
and the involvement of the London Development Agency, who had helped contribute
to funding the Positive Futures programme of work.
Charlotte Sweeney, Equality and Diversity Manager from Barclays Bank,
discussed her company's approach to HIV employees across the world and
to their commitment to "being seen as an enlightened employer".
"We've made a start in the workplace here. We're working on a global
policy. We've had staff who were HIV positive and have had positive feedback
on how they've been treated," she said.
Barclays were among 60 businesses represented at the reception others
included Ford, British Telecom, IBM, Sainbury's, Saatchi and Saatchi and
the Cabinet Office.
James George, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1995, also spoke about how
his return to work after obtaining a degree - both assisted by Positive
Futures - had helped. "It gave me normality back and the chance to
restructure my life," he said.
He talked about the support he had received from his employers: "I
have told my employer I'm HIV positive. I probably wouldn't if I didn't
know they had good policies."
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Andrew Little was delighted with the launch: "It was exciting to see so many
