Maurice's
"It's a great thing to achieve the thing you set out to do"
This affirmation, heard in a radio broadcast about pilgrimage, prompted
me to reflect on my academic studies over the past year. In October
I completed the two Open University (OU) courses begun in February.
Although I won't know the results until December, I feel confident
of a successful outcome and already appreciate the benefits from the
skills and experiences picked up on the way.
MIND
Award
For those readers who may be unaware, last year I won a Real Lives,
Real People, MIND Millennium Award. This covered training for personal
development (the OU courses) and financial assistance to complete
a project of community benefit. The project of community benefit,
www.LGBmind-matters.com
is a web site on lesbian, gay and bisexual mental health. It seemed
appropriate that it should contain a page on HIV/AIDS.
World
AIDS Day 2001
"I care... Do you?" is the slogan for the second year of
a two-year campaign intended to create a sustained focus on the role
of men in the AIDS epidemic.
UNAIDS website has a number of interesting posters with pictures of
celebrities demonstrating their support for the World AIDS 2001 Campaign.
You can download copies free (postcard size) from www.unaids.org
My favourite has to be the one showing Ricky Martin.
Any
support you can give to raise funds for Staffordshire Buddies and
other HIV charities would give support to this year's WAD theme and
help raise much needed cash. The worsening global situation is mirrored
here in the UK. Whilst the scale is much smaller than in countries
of the under resourced world, the figures for new HIV infection in
the UK are at an all time high. The increase of HIV infection amongst
young people is disturbing.
On
the home front
Staffordshire Buddies executive committee have had a pretty hard time
over the past few years. Unless you have actually served as an exec
member, you would be unaware of the amount of time and energy each
member devotes to the charity. Some of the situations they have had
to deal with recently have been stressful to say the least. The growth
of the charity has led to a feeling of separation and being out of
touch amongst users of services, volunteers and staff alike. It was
heartening, therefore, to receive the recent letter signed by the
entire executive committee that included the aims of the charity.
It was reassuring to be reminded of their commitment.
Immediate
Future
The National government has dropped the HIV ring fenced budget. The
long awaited HIV strategy has been assimilated into a national strategy
for sexual health. Next year will see the end of local health authorities
with a more responsibility and money being given to Primary Care (GPs).
These challenges are perhaps best seen as a rallying call for all
elements of the charity to unite in facing the future, drawing on
the experiences and successes of its short history.
Take
care,
Maurice
