HIV Services
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Individual Help and Support Professional and Confidential Help and Advice
We hold the Community Legal Services quality mark for General Help in relation to advice on benefits, housing and debt. We recognise that people living with HIV are a diverse group of individuals living in very different circumstances. Our experienced staff can undertake an individual assessment with you to determine which of our services and what support can best meet your needs. Where appropriate we can refer you to other specialist agencies for help .
Positive Housing - Specialist Housing Support Positive Housing Support is a free housing support service provided by Staffordshire Buddies to help people with HIV find suitable housing and live independently in their homes. We can help you to:
To download our guide to housing related support. Click here... Buddies one to one support - 'Supporting you throughout the week and weekend' Buddies are trained volunteers who can provide individual help and support in your home or in the community. Buddy volunteers can provide:
Buddies may occasionally help around the house or with daily chores especially when someone is unwell but it is important to remember that Buddies are volunteers and not a “home help”.
Free £250 to any cost that improves your health and well-being. Staffordshire Buddies is piloting an easy to use and accessible grants system aimed at funding up to £250 per person each year around improving health and well-being for people living with HIV in Staffordshire.. To apply contact Steve or Wayne on (01782) 201251 or email 'steve.manley@staffordshirebuddies.co.uk' Currently grants are being used to fund; Gym membership, weekend residentials, counselling and using complementary therapies. There is an assessment of need and impact and has been very popular so far.
Transport We can offer a volunteer based transport service to help you get to essential appointments if you cannot manage by yourself. This service is available to people with insufficient income to afford public transport or to those unable to use public transport due to health problems. If you are fit enough to use public transport but have insufficient income we may be able to give you a bus pass. If you are unfamiliar with public transport we can arrange for a volunteer to accompany you on your journey. If your main need is related to health problems and/or limited mobility we may be able to offer a volunteer driver. Free Condoms and Lubricants A full range of condoms and lubricants are available free to clients at our Hanley and Lichfield Centres. Condoms can also be sent by post confidentially to clients living with HIV living in Staffordshire who are unable to travel to our centres.
Complementary Therapies A range of complementary therapies are offered by qualified professional therapists to relieve stress and improve health and wellbeing. Clients undergo an initial assessment and are allocated a set number of sessions after which effectiveness of the therapy is reviewed. Complementary therapies are currently available throughout the week and at the drop-in services at both our Hanley and Lichfield Centres and also during our outreach sessions at Burton-on-Trent Genitourinary Medicine Clinic. If you are too unwell to travel, therapists may be able to make a home visit. The therapies currently on offer include:
Counselling Services Staffordshire Buddies provides a confidential and dedicated counselling service. The service is recently being expanded and is available in North Staffordshire.
Emergency Fund The Staffordshire Buddies Emergency Fund can make small grants to people living with HIV in times of exceptional financial need. Crisis payments can also be made at short notice, these typically pay for food and daily living expenses for clients on very low or no income. All applications have to be in writing and are decided against a set of qualifying criteria. Contact us to apply. |
Positive Housing
Download the guide to our Positive Housing service. Click here... Eligibility All the services described in these pages are for people living with or directly affected by HIV in Staffordshire. Equal Opportunities Staffordshire Buddies is committed to the fair treatment of all individuals regardless of their age, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, gender identity, immigration status, nationality, political belief, race, relationship status, faith, religious belief, sexual orientation, social class, trade union membership or non-membership. Where are we? The Staffordshire Buddies main centre for HIV Services is based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. We also have a centre in Lichfield. To help ensure confidentiality for people who use our services we do not publicise the addresses of our two centres. To access any of the services on this page please contact our main office and ask to speak to a member of the HIV services Team. Our telephone number is: Tel: 01782 201251 |
We offer specialist and confidential advocacy, advice, information and support on all on aspects of living with HIV. We also provide the latest local information around services, as well as support and regular updates on HIV, Health and well-being. We provide the following support;
