LivingWell Scotland (LWS) forms part of our National LivingWell team which has specific funding for LivingWell services in Scotland. The project led by dedicated members of our LivingWell team.
Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with HIV/Hepatitis C for decades, we have a range of services available.
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 Tuesday’s)
- 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-in's are available weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
Peer support groups
All our groups are trans and non-binary inclusive.
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.
Common Bond (national online - for women)
Our peer support group for women (including trans women) living with HIV. This group is an inclusive, safe and respectful online space for friendship and fun for people living with HIV who identify as female.
Meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm.
The group offers a space to increase our social connectedness and enable learning from each other, to check in and talk about how we are.
Each month we also have a 10-minute ‘show and tell’ from one of our members to share what supports their wellbeing. The first session in October included a demonstration of tai chi, which got us moving and relaxing, and even creating freestyle dances!
In the final part of the evening, we use breakout rooms to chat in smaller groups.
Our group is full of excitement, building a community for fellowship and also joy from being together in a free and safe space.
To join us, please register using the form below.
Men United (Scotland, Glasgow office - for gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men)
Meets in person on the third Wednesday of each month, 7pm – 8.30pm.
Before 96 (national online mixed gender group)
The Before 96 group is primarily for people who were diagnosed before or around 1996, when effective treatment started to be introduced, but all are welcome.
We look to create a safe space where individuals can share topical issues and life experiences for mutual support. We also invite a range of speakers and organisations to promote discussion around issues relevant to the group, but we aim to build a supportive community network.
We meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 4pm, with attendees able to attend online from anywhere in the UK or in-person at Cally Yard if they live in or around London.
Attending online requires Zoom, video conferencing software that you can use to access online meetings for free.
To join us, please register using the form below.
Be+ (mixed gender group)
Be+ is an online peer support space for anyone living with HIV, whether more recently diagnosed or diagnosed for a longer time, to come together and share stories and ask questions.
The group starts at 5:30pm and is hosted just after Before 96 where many peers will stay online to share their experience of living with HIV.
To join us, please register using the form below. To join us, please register using the form below.
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 telephone
To book an appointment email [email protected] 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 Living Well 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
- Get support to reflect on your skills, strengths and experience
- Develop and renew skills
- Meet new people
- Self-esteem
- Learn to live well with HIV
- Overcome 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)
- Partners, friends, family and unpaid carers
How do I get involved?
To book a place, please contact Julie Ringsell on [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.
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 Tuesday’s volunteer
- Assisting with in-person events at LWS groups/events, admin and reception
To find out more about becoming a peer volunteer, please contact [email protected].
For more information, email [email protected].
We also have opportunities for Partners, friends, family and unpaid carers, please contact Julie.
Our services are available to people aged 18 and over living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C.
Our funders
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LivingWell Scotland is made possible by funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the Gannochy Trust and NHS Tayside Charitable Trust.
Grateful thanks also go to a range of other donors.
