The Positive Health (Lincolnshire) November 2011 Newsletter is now available for download in PDF format from the newsletter section of the website.

Also posted in the Newsletter section are two informative documents provided by the Lincoln City Benefits Advice Department regarding the conversion of Incapacity, SDA and Income Support to the new ESA system. Everyone on these benefits will be reassessed and converted over to ESA sometime in the next three years. These changes are outlined in the two PDFs which were graciously given to us by the Lincoln City Benefits Advice Team when they came to talk to clients at the Positive Health (Lincolnshire) offices in Mid-November.

If you have any additional questions regarding the benefit change over please speak to a member of the Social Care Team or call the Lincoln City Benefits Advice Team.

National AIDS Trust (NAT) has recently launched two new websites so that the public have access to accurate information about HIV.
 
The first website, HIVAWARE (http://www.HIVaware.org.uk), has been created by NAT, in a partnership with Durex, is a response to research that shows a lack of understanding among the British public about HIV and the site provides current and trustworthy information to address this.
 
In addition, due to extensive feedback from people living with HIV, National AIDS trust has revamped their own website and launched their new ‘Life with HIV’ pages, which can be accessed directly via http://www.lifewithhiv.org.uk/

NAT welcomes feedback on both websites, which are live, fully-functional and feature a wealth of information and resources. 

A member of the Lincoln City Council Benefits Advice Team will be coming to the Positive Health (Lincolnshire) offices on Monday 14 November at 1 pm to hold a discussion on the proposed changes to the benefits system. A short talk will be given and then general questions can be asked.

All clients and carers are invited to attend. Please call the Positive Health (Lincolnshire) office or speak with your Social Care worker to register your interest.

National AIDS Trust set up a HIV Activist Network in December 2010 to give people living with HIV a greater voice on topics that matter to them. Since it’s inception 50 people have joined the network and taken action on a wide range of issues including emails their MPs about the Welfare Reform Bill, writing to local councilors about HIV social care funding and contacting their PCT about prevention and testing. Most recently the Activists in London have written to the London Specialised Commissioning Group about changes to HIV drugs prescribing in London.

The Network needs more members. Everyone is welcome to join, you don’t have to be HIV positive, you just have to care about the issues and want to take action on them. To join the HIV Activist network today and make sure your voice is heard - email HIVactivist@nat.org.uk or call NAT on 020 7814 67 67.

Our Social Support group meetings have been very successful over the past two years. Clients find the meetings friendly and enjoyable.

We would like to see if there is interest from client’s carers in having a Carer’s Support meeting on a monthly basis. This would be a great safe forum to discuss common concerns that carer’s have as well as meet other people in similar situations.

Please call or email the Positive Health (Lincolnshire) office to register an interest.

The next social support group meetings are on the 19th (12 pm) in Spalding and 21st (7pm) of September in Lincoln.

If you are interested in attending please contact your Social Care worker or the Positive Health Office.

Positive Health (Lincolnshire) will hold it’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 30^th June 2011 at 7pm at the offices 25 Newland Lincoln LN1 1XP. 

In accordance with our Memorandum of Articles and Association only members who have an approved membership card shall be able to vote at the AGM meetings.  Anyone wishing to become a member should complete a membership application form for approval by the Trustees.

For a membership application and to RSVP, please contact Jo at the Positive Health Office by 10^th June. You also may inform Jo about any issues you wish to be brought up at the meeting.