On 22nd February at 12.30pm HIV & sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), will be officially opening its new centre in Birkenhead which will serve the whole of the Wirral.

The opening will be attended by celebrity supporter Claire Sweeney, the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Phil Gilchrist and the Chairman of Wirral Primary Care Trust, Frances Street.  It will be an opportunity for clients, partner agencies and other interested parties to meet THT staff and members of the Executive Team to discuss plans for services in the area. 

The new office, funded by Wirral Primary Care Trust will provide a range of services:

• Health promotion outreach work focused on preventing HIV from being passed on
• Support groups and health advice for people affected by HIV and sexual ill health
• One to one support
• General information on sexually transmitted infections
• Condoms and safer sex information
• Counselling
• Raising sexual health awareness through training and education

Representatives from the NHS and social services, other voluntary organisations, THT volunteers and staff will all be attending the open day. 

Ewan Jenkins, Manager of the new office said “We’re delighted to be opening an office here in the Wirral.  We’re looking forward to working with other organisations in the region to increase awareness of sexual health and support people who are living with HIV in the area.”

Ends

Notes to editors

• The photocall will take place at 1pm on 22 February at:
  Terrence Higgins Trust
  5 Bridge Street
  Birkenhead
  Wirral
  CH41 1AS
  
• 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 7812 1625.
  
• There were 492 new diagnoses of HIV in the North West in 2006. 4,512 people were accessing HIV care services in the region. Approximately a third of people with HIV in the North West remain undiagnosed.
   
• 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 ill health.