Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), the leading HIV and sexual health charity, is officially opening a new office in Wellington on 27 January to provide HIV and sexual health prevention and support programmes across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. THT services in Shropshire are funded by Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trusts.

There are now over 2,000 people living with HIV in the West Midlands, and new diagnoses are steadily increasing in Shropshire. The new office will provide a range of services to support people living with HIV and help to prevent the rising tide of sexual ill-health. New services will include:

• Health promotion outreach work 
• Support groups and health advice for people living with HIV
• Counselling service
• Financial support including access to hardship grants
• Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth group
• Sexual health support for prisons
• Condoms by post

Tina Prashar, Regional Manager for Terrence Higgins Trust in the Midlands said “I'm delighted that we are opening our new office in Wellington. We look forward to working with other organisations in the region to increase awareness of sexual health and support people who are living with HIV.

Ends

Notes to editors

• The photocall will take place at 12.45pm on Friday 27th January at:
  Terrence Higgins Trust
  4 Park Street
  Wellington
  TF1 3AE
• If you are a journalist or a photographer and you would like to attend the office opening please contact the Terrence Higgins Trust Press Office on 020 7816 8622.
• At the launch event, young people from Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology will receive a certificate for their impressive work on an HIV awareness campaign for World AIDS day (December 1st), part of their BTEC 1st Diploma in Public Services.
• There were 483 new diagnoses for HIV in the West Midlands in 2004.
• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services to over 50,000 people a year.  The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual health.