Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) in Brighton is relaunching Positive Voices (formerly the People with HIV Speakers’ Bureau), which gives people living with HIV an opportunity to talk publicly about their experiences.  Rates of HIV are rising across Brighton & Hove, East and West Sussex and THT is looking for volunteers who would be interested in getting involved.

Volunteer speakers would help raise awareness of HIV by talking about their experiences of living with HIV to groups such as school children, community networks, healthcare professionals, the media and others. Their personal testimonies would dispel myths, reinforce prevention messages and give people with HIV a public voice.

Ben Tunstall, Senior Health Promotion Coordinator for THT in the South said “If anyone is interested in sharing their experiences with HIV, we’d be really keen for them to get in touch.  All our volunteers receive training and ongoing support.  It’s also a great opportunity to gain skills, meet new people and help your local community.”

THT would like to have a diverse team of speakers from across Sussex which reflects the range of people affected by HIV.  THT welcomes applications from anyone who has HIV and who would be happy sharing their own experiences, however the charity is particularly targeting women and people from black and minority ethnic communities. 

To find out more about volunteering for Positive Voices please contact Amy Leftwich on 01273 764208 or email amy.leftwich@tht.org.uk

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Notes to editors

• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services across England, Wales and Scotland.  The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual health.

• In 2004 2,077 people were accessing HIV care services in Surrey and Sussex, in 2005 this had risen to 2,313.