Terrence Higgins Trust relaunches HIV support groups in Brighton
This February, HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust is re-launching three HIV support groups for people in Brighton. The groups will cater for heterosexual people and people under the age of 30 who are living with HIV, as well as partners, friends and family members of people with the condition. The charity is welcoming people from across the Brighton area to register for the groups.
The latest figures released by the Health Protection Agency reveal that there were 4,847
people accessing HIV care in the South East Coast area in 2011, an increase of nine per cent on the previous year. Terrence Higgins Trust’s group services in Brighton are designed to help people with HIV and their loved ones access support from others in similar situations, and learn techniques for managing the condition and strategies for living healthily and happily with the virus.
Details of the new groups are as follows:
Telling it Straight
Telling it Straight is a group for heterosexual men and women who are living with HIV. The group, which runs over eight sessions, will be coordinated by trained and experienced facilitators who are also living with HIV. Group members can bring their own subjects for discussion and a member of Terrence Higgins Trust staff will provide answers to any health questions. Guest speakers will occasionally give talks on specialist subjects such as 'HIV treatment as prevention' and 'Disclosure and criminal prosecutions'.
Young+
Young+ is a group for people under the age of 30 who are living with HIV. The group will run on an on going basis once a month and will provide a friendly forum to meet other young people who are living with HIV, talk openly about the condition and ask questions about living with the virus.
Partner, Friends and Family
The Partner, Friends and Family group, which will run on a weekly basis over four sessions, is an opportunity to discuss issues around being close to someone living with HIV and to ask questions in a safe and friendly environment. The group will be facilitated by staff from Terrence Higgins Trust, who will provide health information and support.
Terrence Higgins Trust is urging people locally to register their interest in taking part in the groups, which will launch in February. The groups add to the charity’s existing portfolio of support groups, which cater for a range of people, including those who are newly diagnosed with HIV or those who have been living with the condition for some time.
Peter Boorman, Health Promotion Co-ordinator for Terrence Higgins Trust in Brighton, said: “It is very exciting to be able to offer support for a range of people in the Brighton area who are either living with HIV or affected by the condition. No matter how HIV has touched your life, having a free, safe and confidential place to go for support can be invaluable. People who come along will have the opportunity to meet others in the same situation, and build friendships and support networks. We encourage anyone who is interested in taking part in these sessions to get in touch.”
Terrence Higgins Trust’s support groups will be held at the charity’s centre on Ship Street in Brighton. Launch dates will be set for all the groups once they have been filled. If you would like to register to take part in one of the groups or if you would like more information about Terrence Higgins Trust’s other support services in Brighton, please contact Peter Boorman at Terrence Higgins Trust’s Brighton centre on (01273) 764200 or by emailing peter.boorman@tht.org.uk.