A Berkshire charity supporting people affected by HIV and members of LGBTQ+ communities has expanded its work through a new National Lottery-funded project.
Thames Valley Positive Support is using the funding to create safe spaces where people can meet, build confidence, reduce isolation and share experiences with others who understand some of the same pressures.
The project also aims to make lived experience more influential in the services and systems that affect people’s lives. That means participants are not simply receiving support, but helping shape conversations around stigma, access and inclusion.
TVPS has worked across the Thames Valley for decades providing HIV , advice and support. The new programme adds more emphasis on connection and community voice, two things that can be particularly valuable where stigma has historically pushed people towards silence.