Our Services
| Children and Families Positive Families “Positive Families” is a service offering help and support to families and children affected by HIV. Our experienced staff can undertake a holistic assessment of a family’s needs to determine which of our services can best help. Where appropriate we can refer members of the family to other specialist agencies.
Children’s Activities Part of our “Positive Families” service is the provision of an after school club and activities during school holidays. This service is available to children living with HIV or to children of negative or unknown HIV status who are cared for by an adult or adults living with HIV. We recognise that young children may be unaware of their reason for attending the service and we will respect the parents/guardians wishes in this regard. However, where adults do wish to disclose HIV status to children we can provide help and support working jointly with HIV Counsellors and clinicians.
We run at least one activity a month throughout the year with more frequent and longer activities during school holidays. Funds permitting we offer an annual residential respite break for Children and a Christmas party with a present for every child. Teenmates Teenmates is a group for older children with an HIV positive diagnosis. Growing up as a teenager living with HIV can be difficult and this group provides a space for young people to support each other and work through the various issues that they face. The group currently meets monthly and has its own programme of activities.
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Eligibility All the services described in these pages are for people living with or directly affected by HIV in Staffordshire. 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 recognise that families affected by HIV may have particular issues around relationships, partner support and disclosure of HIV status to children. We have ten years experience of working with children and families affected by HIV/AIDS and we are one of the few local HIV charities in the UK to offer a specialist service of this kind. 
We offer a wide range of activities that are hugely popular with children. Our aim is to give both children and parents a break and where appropriate to help build confidence and social skills.