Do Something

There are many ways to make a different, as an individual, at university, at school or at work.

Support our campaigns

Campaign to protect the next generation!

Young gay men missed out on the widespread health promotion messages of the 1980s, and they are now the group of young people most at risk of getting HIV.

It is essential that young gay men receive appropriate information and education so that they can understand the risks of HIV and how they can protect their sexual health. It is also vital that young gay men realise the importance of having a regular HIV test.

Demand action from MPs

Our campaign focuses on these important issues and we would like you to write to your MP asking them to sign up to our Early Day Motion (EDM). This is a statement, a bit like a petition, which MPs can sign to show that they support a particular issue or campaign.

To find out who your MP is click here and enter your postcode.  If you would like to find out whether your MP has already signed the EDM please click here and check the list of signatures. 
If your MP has not yet signed it, you can copy and paste the text below into an email or letter, asking them to sign.  You can email your MP by clicking here or write to them at: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.  We would love to hear from you, especially if you receive a response from your MP.

__________________________________

Dear [insert name of MP]

I am writing asking you to sign EDM number 47 which was tabled on 18 November 2009.  Please see the text of the EDM below.

1 December was World AIDS Day, when the world united in support of people living with HIV.  In the UK, young gay men are now the group of young people most at risk of getting HIV.  In fact, new HIV diagnoses in this group have doubled in the last ten years. Young gay men missed out on the widespread health promotion messages of the 1980s, and we need to ensure that more is done to protect this group from HIV.

I would be grateful if you could sign this EDM – by signing it you will show your commitment to World AIDS Day and to ensuring that the needs of the young group most at risk of HIV are not ignored. 

If you do not intend to sign it, please could you write back to let me know why.

Yours sincerely,
[Insert name]
[Insert address and postcode]

EDM 47 - World AIDS Day 2009
That this House notes the importance of World AIDS Day; recognises that the number of people living with HIV in the UK continues to increase, with over 80,000 people now living with HIV, and that young gay men remain the group of young people most at risk of acquiring HIV, with new diagnoses amongst this group doubling in the last 10 years; acknowledges the need for sensitive and sensible messages on sexual health to young people in schools; calls on the Government to ensure teachers have support and information to be able to talk confidently and sensitively about sexual health in order to meet the needs of all including young gay men; and further calls on the Government to ensure that a new national strategy for HIV beyond 2011 includes specific actions to address the needs of young gay men.

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Take action in schools

One of the best ways to protect the next generation is to make sure that they are getting good HIV education in schools. So why not order one of our ‘HIV in Schools Packs’ which you can take into your local school?

The Schools Pack aims to educate young people about different aspects of HIV to enable them to protect their own sexual health, and understand and challenge HIV related stigma and discrimination.

The Schools Pack is a unique resource because it provides teachers with innovative and simple ways to incorporate HIV into their existing teaching programmes for Science, Geography, English, Art, Drama and Computer Technology.

To order a hardcopy of the Schools Pack please email policyandcampaigns@nat.org.uk. You can also download a copy here If you are interested in taking one to your local school, we have also a factsheet giving useful advice about how to do this.

We can all help teachers ensure that the decision-makers and opinion-formers of the future have the facts about HIV!

Improve HIV services in your local area!

31% of people who are diagnosed with HIV are diagnosed late. Late diagnosis means that the HIV has become advanced and is far harder to treat. People can become seriously ill and even die if they are not diagnosed early enough, and many could be putting their partners at risk of HIV because they remain undiagnosed and untreated. In 2005, the majority of HIV-related deaths were because people were diagnosed too late for effective treatment.

SHout loud (Sexual Health out loud) tells you how you can campaign to reduce HIV late diagnosis in your area by writing to your primary care trust. This is very important as decision makers in your local area, especially health organisations like primary care trusts, decide what health services your community needs and how much money to spend on them. You can shout loud about HIV late diagnosis and make a real difference in you community.
 

Tackle stigma in the media

If you read or hear something about HIV in the media that is inaccurate, propagates myths or stigmatises people living with HIV, don’t leave it up to others to set the record straight - make your voice heard!

Press Gang is an online group of people living with HIV who are willing to speak out and challenge inaccurate and stigmatising stories about HIV in the UK. The group is supported by NAT who monitor national and regional press and email Press Gang members when there are inaccurate or potentially contentious stories in the media.

Members are encouraged to write a letter to the editor pointing out why an article is inaccurate and informing readers about the realities of living with HIV in the UK or to contribute to online discussions on stories in the news. And of course if you want to comment anonymously, that’s fine.

So if you are living with HIV and interested in challenging poor media coverage then please join Press Gang today!

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