Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with HIV/hepatitis C for decades, LivingWell Scotland has a range of services available. The project is led by dedicated members of our LivingWell team.
Our holistic approach emphasises the value of helping people to help themselves and each other, working across several key areas to identify opportunities for personal growth.
All of our support is confidential and you can access our services in a way that suits you.
Services we offer
- One-to-one support
- Peer support groups in person and online
- Welfare and benefits advice
- LivingWell drop-in (Advice Tuesdays)
- Workshops (see more detail below)
- Learning to Live with HIV
- Growing Older with HIV
- Partners, Friends, Family
- Special events
- Volunteering.
One-to-one support
Our team can provide support on an individual basis via Zoom, phone, text or in-person.
Check-ins are available weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
Peer support groups
Advice Tuesday LivingWell drop-in
Currently advice sessions are only available either over the phone or via Zoom (up to 30 mins) due to flooding in our Glasgow office.
Our staff and volunteer drop-in provide the opportunity to ask advice about:
- welfare rights
- benefits
- digital support
- access to learning
- volunteering and more.
Tuesday, 11.00am – 1.00pm, online or by telephone.
To book an appointment email [email protected] or call 0141 332 3838.
Workshops
There are a series of workshops specially designed for people living with a blood-borne virus (BBV), specifically HIV and/or hepatitis C.
These session have been created to empower people with the tools they need to live well and thrive with their diagnosis. With a focus on ageing, managing disclosure, stigma and newly diagnosed, these sessions also provide a springboard to further opportunities, both within LivingWell support services and our wider organisation.
Sessions will support you to take positive steps towards sustainable personal development goals in a safe, supportive environment.
What can I gain from workshops?
- Confidence
- Self-management
- Getting support to reflect on your skills, strengths and experience
- Developing and renewing skills
- Meeting new people
- Self-esteem
- Learning to live well with HIV
- Overcoming personal barriers.
Workshops
- Ageing with a BBV:
- ageing well
- relationships
- financial and digital inclusion
- planning ahead, accessing care.
- EASE
- Newly Diagnosed course (stigma, disclosure, adherence, medications and relationships).
- Our new workshop for partners, friends, family and unpaid carers to learn more about your diagnosis and how to support you and themselves
How do I get involved?
To book a place, please contact Julie Ringsell at [email protected].
Special events
Throughout the year we have a series of both in-person and online events, from partnership projects such as creating artwork, health and wellbeing, to celebrating World AIDS Day.
We also encourage and support peers to suggest and implement their own ideas and events.
National services
My Community
My Community is a private, confidential, safe online space for people living with HIV.
- Members can share personal experiences of living with HIV.
- Members can ask questions and seek advice from peers about living with HIV.
- The forum offers peer support and community, helping individuals feel less alone.
- It serves as a resource for reliable information about HIV including diagnosis, treatments and managing multiple health conditions.
- Members can promote and sign up to events and opportunities across the UK.
Living with HIV is what connects this community but members connect on a much broader range of interests.
The platform is moderated by a team of trained peers volunteers based throughout the UK and supported by staff at Terrence Higgins Trust. Join My Community Here.
Groups
We host a variety of groups and workshops to support people living with HIV and provide peer support. These are safe and confidential spaces where we can discuss topical issues, life experiences and share mutual support. All our groups are trans and non-binary inclusive.
Before 96
Second Tuesday of each month, 4-5pm, Zoom.
Before 96 is primarily for people who were diagnosed before or around 1996, when effective treatment started to be introduced, but all are welcome.
Be+
Second Tuesday of each month, 5.30-6.30pm, Zoom.
Be+ is an online social space for anyone living with HIV, whether more recently diagnosed or diagnosed for a longer time.
Common Bond
Third Tuesday of each month, 7-8.30pm, Zoom.
Common Bond is our online space for women living with HIV.
Faith and HIV
Online social events, workshops, groups and support for Christians living with HIV, through My Community.
Find out more about the faith and HIV groups.
Men United
Third Wednesday of each month, 7-8.30pm, Zoom.
This is a space for gay, bi, men who have sex with men, living with HIV.
To join us, contact [email protected].
Becoming a volunteer for us
If you have lived experience of HIV and/or hepatitis C, live in Scotland and want to become a volunteer for the project, we'd love to hear from you. We have a structured recruitment and training programme for volunteers including:
- Co-facilitator for groups
- My Community online moderator
- Advice Tuesdays volunteer
- Assisting with in-person events at LivingWell Scotland groups/events, admin and reception.
To find out more about becoming a peer volunteer, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
We also have opportunities for partners, friends, family and unpaid carers: please contact Julie for more information.
Our services are available to people aged 18 and over living with HIV and/or hepatitis C.
For professionals
It’s important that people living with HIV have choices, and those choices are informed using reliable sources and access to up-to-date information about groups, projects, events, and support available. We are keen for people living with HIV to have access to the widest possible range of information and support designed for people living and growing older with HIV.
Whether you run a local peer support groups or support people living with HIV in other ways, and would like more information, please contact [email protected].
To order resources, such as A4 posters, A6 flyers or wallet cards, please complete our form.
Our funders
LivingWell Scotland is made possible by funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and NHS Tayside Charitable Trust.
Grateful thanks also go to a range of other donors.
