The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 9 March 2001 and registered as a charity on 14 April 2002. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10. Prior to our incorporation in March 2001 the organisation was known as LAVG (Lincolnshire HIV & AIDS Voluntary Group) The organisation had originally been formed in 1985 and received charitable status in 1995. In 2000 the members agreed to form a company limited by guarantee and requested that we took the opportunity to change the charity name to one, which offered more confidentiality to our clientele and better reflected the work we are involved in. As a result Positive Health was chosen. A student, following a competition at a local school, designed our logo. LAVG was formally dissolved on 1st July 2002 with all assets being transferred to Positive Health (Lincolnshire). In 2000 we purchased our current headquarters, which were completely remodelled and refurbished in 2003 to enable us to better meet the needs of our clientele.

Organisation Structure.

Positive Health has a minimum of three Trustees, there is no maximum number. The Trustees meet bi-monthly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. At present there are five Trustees. The Manager also attends Trustee meetings but has no voting rights. Surgeries are offered after each Trustee Meeting to allow clients of the organisation to have direct access to the Trustees should they desire this. The Trustees do not involve themselves in the day to day running of the organisation, this is delegated to the Manager via the formal scheme of delegation. The Manager is responsible for ensuring that Positive Health delivers the services specified and the key performance indicators are met. The Manager is also responsible for the individual supervision of the staff team to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of their roles and that they are able to access relevant CPD opportunities.

Related Parties.

The work of Positive Health reflects both National and Local strategy in relation to HIV services. Positive Health works alongside Social Services, Lincolnshire GUM and Sexual Health Services, The Police, Schools, Colleges, Housing Associations and local Councils. In addition we belong to a variety of multi-agency groups.

Objectives and Activities

Positive Health’s objects and principal activities relate to the following statement, which is taken from our Memorandum of Articles of Association:

‘The relief of poverty, sickness and social exclusion of persons living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, and related infections, substance misuse and poor sexual health’

In furtherance of our objectives but not otherwise the charity may exercise the following powers:

‘To target the public with information on sexual health, HIV and substance misuse, through relevant campaigns and awareness events, to provide information or support around those issues to people living in Lincolnshire’

and

‘To use appropriate methods to educate and inform the general public and specific target groups on the subjects of HIV/AIDS, HEP B, Sexual Health and the wider actions of Positive Health (Lincolnshire)

The main objectives and activities for the year continued to focus on the support for our clients, and the prevention of further infection via our education/training and outreach work. In addition to the work of our salaried staff the Trustees would also like to acknowledge the work of our volunteers, who give freely of their time and without whom our work would not be as effective as we would wish it to be.