THEGAYUK

Tag: Charity

All the latest breaking news on Charity. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Charity.

  • UK’s Biggest AIDS charity prepares to defend historic win against NHS England on PrEP

    NAT (National AIDS Trust) prepares to defend historic win against NHS England on PrEP

    (C) marcbruxel Depositphotos

    The charity has launched a crowdfunding appeal in order to raise vital funds to cover their legal costs for the appeal. NHS England is appealing the ruling that said they unlawfully cut PrEP, the drug which prevents HIV transmission, from their commissioning process.

    PrEP could be the beginning of the end for HIV – a condition more than 6,000 people a year are diagnosed with in the UK – but NHS England says it doesn’t have the legal power to pay for it because it’s a prevention drug. However in August, following Judicial Review by NAT, Mr Justice Green ruled that they are wrong and there is no legal impediment to them funding PrEP.

    Despite the strength of the ruling against their stance, NHS England is forcing the case to go back to court. NAT is now aiming to raise at least £15,000 by 22 September in order to support the costs of the case. The hearing for the appeal will take place on 15 September at the Royal Courts of Justice.

    Deborah Gold, CEO at NAT, said,

    “We are very disappointed to be having to go to court again to ensure that the NHS can’t just shut the door on PrEP.

    “By unlawfully and suddenly removing PrEP from their commissioning process, NHS England denied the rights of those who need it to have the case for PrEP heard in a fair and impartial way. We can’t stand back and allow poor decisions like this to go unchallenged.

    “The truth is that PrEP not only works – it is cost-effective. We will continue to fight for PrEP to be made available on the NHS because it is the right thing to do and it makes financial sense for the country.”

    Ian Green, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust which supported the crowdfunding campaign with a £3,000 donation, said,

    “We are extremely grateful to NAT for taking on NHS England in the High Court, as part of the ongoing effort to see PrEP made available to those at risk of HIV.

    “PrEP – alongside condom use, treatment and testing – could be the final piece of the jigsaw in stopping HIV transmission in the UK.  This is a cause worth fighting for.

    “We stand united with NAT and the HIV community in continuing the fight for this game-changing preventative treatment, and have been pleased to be able to provide a donation from Terrence Higgins Trust towards the charity’s legal costs.”

    Deborah Gold added,

    “We want to thank everyone who has so far contributed to our legal costs throughout this part of the fight for PrEP as well as those who would like to now.  You have enabled us to stand up for the rights of people whose voices may otherwise not be heard.”

     

    This article was written by NATIONAL AIDS TRUST, but is not a paid for piece of content.

  • Drag mayhem on top of Snowdon

    Drag mayhem on top of Snowdon

    A cock in a frock on a rock… Drag queens are gearing up to scale Wales’ tallest mountain, Snowdon.

    Next summer, a gaggle of drag queens are set to climb Mount Snowdon, one of the UK’s tallest mountains in aid of four charities.

    Organiser, Miss Roxy Ritz said,

     “I was supporting one of my drag queen colleagues, Crystal Ball, who was performing at a local venue and went outside to get some fresh air.

    I was speaking to one of the venue locals who mentioned that they lived in Wales near Snowdonia, which got me talking about Priscilla Queen of the Desert (don’t ask how!). After going back inside I did a little thinking and then it came to me… Queens of Snowdonia!”

    “The idea of drag queens hiking up Snowdonia excited me, so for the next couple of days as I built on the idea, I asked a few people to see what they thought about it and, lo and behold, Queens of Snowdonia progressed from conception, so to speak.”

    The challenge was accepted by Miss Jason, Betty Swollocks, Sissy Sucks and Stephanie Von Clitz and even Dave Lynn.

    © AMzPhoto Depositphotos

     

    Miss Roxy Ritz wants to ultimately get a minimum of 20 drag queens to take part with the aim of raising £10,000 for the causes. You can find out more on their facebook page.

    The four charities the queens aim to raise the cash for are: Macmillan Cancer Research, Terrence Higgins Trust, Cancer is a Drag and Sussex Beacon.

     

  • Legal Breakthrough for PrEP in England

    Historic win for NAT as the High Court overturns NHS England refusal to consider PrEP

    PrEP

    NAT (National AIDS Trust) is delighted by the judgment passed down in the High Court today that NHS England acted unlawfully in withdrawing PrEP, a game-changing drug preventing transmission of HIV, from its decision-making process.

    When, after 18 months of preparation, NHS England suddenly abandoned its work on PrEP, NAT considered it had no option but to challenge this through judicial review.  Today the court heard that NHS England’s interpretation of the law was incorrect.

    PrEP is urgently needed and has been shown to be cost-effective. NAT has always believed that there is no legal impediment to PrEP being commissioned by NHS England and the court agrees.
    Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of NAT, said,

    “This is fantastic news. It is vindication for the many people who were let down when NHS England absolved itself of responsibility for PrEP.  The judgment has confirmed our view – that it is perfectly lawful for NHS England to commission PrEP.  Now NHS England must do just that.

    Over 4,000 people are getting HIV every year in the UK – we desperately need further prevention options to add to condom use.  PrEP works.  It saves money and it will make an enormous difference to the lives of men and women across the country who are at risk of acquiring HIV.  The delay to commissioning PrEP is both unethical and expensive.”

    In his judgement Mr Justice Green wrote,

    ‘No one doubts that preventative medicine makes powerful sense. But one governmental body says it has no power to provide the service and the local authorities say that they have no money.  The Clamant is caught between the two and the potential victims of this disagreement are those who will contract HIV/AIDs but who would not were the preventative policy to be fully implemented.’

     

    He goes on to conclude that in all the possible scenarios that were explored in the judicial review, NHS England does have the power to commission PrEP.

    It is enormously disappointing that NHS England has decided to appeal this judgment, especially given the wide ranging and well-reasoned arguments it contains. The appeal will further delay clarity in this area, and mean that any potential commissioning of PrEP will not take place for months.

    Following this decision, there will now be a 30-day public consultation on PrEP, which should start almost immediately, and an NHS England committee will consider the case for commissioning it, but final announcements and actual commissioning will be contingent on the outcome of the appeal.

  • Scottish Father to walk 96 miles to tackle homophobia in schools

    Scottish Father to walk 96 miles to tackle homophobia in schools

    A Scottish Father has kick-started a fundraiser in support of tackling homophobia in schools, as he tells of his fears for his son’s future within the education system.

    Neil

     

    Glasgow resident Neil Dallimore, 33, plans to walk 96 miles along the West Highland Way – from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish highlands – and is seeking public donations for his efforts, in order to raise funds for campaign group Time for Inclusive Education (TIE).

    TIE are calling for LGBTI issues to be taught in all Scottish schools in an effort to tackle high rates of mental health, self harm and suicide amongst LGBTI young people.

    Dallimore has an 11 year old son who recently told him that he was gay but asked for it be kept a secret from his school teachers because he feared that he would be “treated differently”.

    He said,

    “To hear your child ask that a part of his identity not be known to elders that are there to educate, protect and support him is a gut punch. His reason was simple enough – another boy had been open about his sexuality last year and afterward the teachers treated him differently in a negative way.

    Too often I hear stories from my kids about how they’ve either been the target of or personally witnessed homophobic bullying and it’s a problem that few teachers have seemed to know how to handle. It’s worrying and upsetting to see your child treated like an outsider by other children based on sexuality and it must change.”

    Despite it being 16 years since Section 28 was repealed in Scotland, there has been little progress towards eradicating homophobia in the playground. Now, Dallimore intends to address this head-on by supporting TIE’s calls for LGBTI inclusion within schools.

    He said,

    “What TIE are doing that gives me hope, is making sure that – if nothing else – when children go to school, no matter who they are, no matter what they hear hateful people say, they will have an enlightened place, a safe place and they will know that they are equal, natural and loved.”

    During this year’s parliamentary election, every major political party had included manifesto commitments endorsing TIE’s calls for teachers from all schools to received specific training on how to challenge homophobia and discuss LGBTI issues in the classroom.

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – who has described herself as a “huge supporter” of the group – restated her pledge to work with the campaigners during a parliamentary debate on LGBTI equality last month.

     

    This article is by Time For Inclusive Education

  • Gok Wan | Tackle homophobic bullying in the playground

    Gok Wan | Tackle homophobic bullying in the playground

    Designer, cook and TV presenter Gok Wan has spoken out in support of LGBT young people, ahead of his keynote speech this Friday 8 July in London at lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality Stonewall’s Education for All Conference.

    CREDIT: Rixie / BigStock
    CREDIT: Rixie / BigStock

     

    Gok Wan said,

    “It’s so important for all of us to do everything we can to help prevent and tackle prejudice and discrimination – and we know that this sort of behaviour starts in the playground. Bullying is never acceptable, but making people feel threatened and alienated because of who they are and what makes them different is heart breaking.

    “We need to teach young people that this is not the way to behave and encourage them and in fact all people to understand that what’s ‘banter’ to some can be deeply hurtful to others. For us to get this right in schools, it’s vital that we recognise the role that teachers have to play, and ensure that they have adequate training to deal with this as it arises.

    “Stonewall is doing just that – which is why I am a proud supporter of the work it does. Whether you’re LGBT or not, we all have a role to play in standing up against hate, which recent events have taught us now more than ever before”.

    Stonewall’s annual Education for All conference, kindly supported by Prudential, is Britain’s leading event on preventing and tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying among young people.

    It brings together hundreds of education professionals through a series of panel discussions and interactive workshop as well as a dedicated youth stream for 150 young people.

    Yvette Cooper MP, mental health campaigner Johnny Benjamin, Muslim drag queen Asifa Lahore, trans activist Fox Fisher, Maria Munir, Juno Roche and Leo Waddell (from documentary I Am Leo) are amongst other speakers at the conference this year.

  • Service helping people living with HIV get back into work relaunched

    The Terrence Higgins Trust has relaunched its Work Positive campaign which aims to help people living with HIV back into work.

    CREDIT: ©-monkeybusiness-Depositphotos
    CREDIT: ©-monkeybusiness-Depositphotos

     

    The UK’s biggest HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust has relaunched a service that aims to help people living with HIV in London, Essex, Brighton, Shrewsbury and Cambridge to get back to work.

    According to the charity, 25 per cent of people with HIV are out of work, and the Positive programme aims to provide work experience, mentoring, peer support, employment coaching and training for people with HIV who have been unemployed for two years.

    With funding from the Big Lottery Fund the service will relaunch for the sixth year. It is accepting application until 7th August

    Micael, who completed Work Positive last year, said,

    “I’d tried other back to work schemes before but I wasn’t getting anywhere and when I left for the day the support stopped, but with Work Positive I was made to feel like a real person, who could contribute to society.

    “Ruth gave me the opportunity to get out and get work, but the programme also gave me the wider support I needed to live a happy and healthy life, like helping me eat well – and on the morning of my graduation I was offered a paid job!”

    Ruth Burns, Work Positive co-ordinator at Terrence Higgins Trust, says,

    “The Work Positive Programme has gone from strength to strength over the last six years. Every year we see our participants transform into confident professionals who are a real asset to the workplace.

    “We want this year’s scheme to be just as successful, and we encourage anyone with HIV who feels they need a boost onto the career ladder to apply.”

  • Britain’s Largest LGBT Domestic Violence Charity Closes

    Broken Rainbow, Britain’s largest charity for the survivors and victims of Domestic Abuse has ceased trading.

    Britain’s largest charity for LGBT survivors and victims of domestic violence, Broken Rainbow is to close after failing to keep financially viable.

    The charity had released a number of funding warnings in 2015 and again in 2016 – blaming the Government’s silence in confirming whether the charity would be funded for another year.

    The charity did receive funding for 2015 and 2016 but a charity insider blamed “major mismanagement” for the issues.

    Communications to its chief executive, Jo Harvey Barringer by THEGAYUK went unanswered in early 2016.

    In 2014 the charity relocated to Manchester.

    The closure is the second LGBT+ charity shuttered in 2016. In January mental health charity PACE closed.

    Buzzfeed were the first to break the news that the charity was to close.

    Some of the services offered by Broken Rainbow to victims and survivors of domestic violence will be transferred to Galop.

    The National LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline will remain available on 0300 999 5428 or 0800 9995428.

  • NHS Will Now Reconsider PrEP After Legal Threat From AIDs Charity

    The NHS in England has said it will now reconsider its position on PrEP prescription for gay men and other high risk groups after a legal threat from leading AIDs charity, the National AIDS Trust (NAT).

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  • FAMILY FASHION: Dad’s That Rock

    FAMILY FASHION: Dad’s That Rock

    If you’ve decided it’s time to start a family, or already have kids, then there’s a clothing range that’s been rocking the fashion industry for not only their designs but also their charity work.

    CREDIT: Rockin' Baby
    CREDIT: Rockin’ Baby

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  • Big Gay numberplate for sale

    Big Gay numberplate for sale

    How much would you pay for a used Big Gay?

    eBay

    That’s the question everyone’s wondering on eBay at the moment where a private number plate B19 GAY is up for sale.

    The used B19 GAY numberplate is currently at £870.00 with 18 bids, though we expect this will go a little higher over the next 5 days left of bidding.

    Seller Jamie, who started the listing at just 99p, says he’ll use the money to help with a mortgage and give some to the charity GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital) where he spent a lot of time.

    Would you drive around with a plate like this in your neighbourhood?

    You can find the listing at: eBay

     

  • LGBT Mental Health Charity Shuts For The Last Time

    LGBT Mental Health Charity Shuts For The Last Time

    The mental health charity, PACE has closed due to “local authority budgets”.

    The London-based PACE mental health charity aimed at helping the LGBT community is due to close on the 29th January 2016 citing cuts in funding and a tough financial climate.

    The 31-year-old company is due to cease all operations from the 29th January.

    A statement on the charity’s website said,

    “The decision to close the doors on PACE after 31 years of supporting the LGBT+ community is one that we have taken with a very heavy heart.

    “The financial climate is very difficult for small charities, especially those delivering services at a local level with continuing cuts to local authority budgets. Sadly despite work to support the charity raising the necessary income needed has proved increasingly hard and it has become clear that it is no longer financially viable for the charity to continue.

    “The staff and trustees will work to ensure that PACE’s clients are given as much support as possible during this difficult time and referred to other support services as far as is possible.

    “We would like to thank all those who have supported us and worked with us to deliver vital support services for the LGBT+ community. A very big thank you to all the staff and volunteers over the last 31 years wo have provided so much support and dedication to the community.”

    In November PACE released findings that showed that 34 per cent of young LGB people have tried to commit suicide in the last year, spelling out how necessary a charity, which focuses on the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in the UK, is at this time.