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GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
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GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
OUR
YEAR
It’s been one of the more challenging years at
George House Trust (GHT) for some time. Whilst
we continue to see a steady stream of new
service users (the average is one per day), and
we strive to meet the needs of people aging
with HIV (341 of our service users are aged 50
and above), we have experienced the most
dramatic changes to our funding for decades.
The Health & Social Care Bill 2012 brought a
huge structural change to the NHS. Historically
the majority of GHT’s funding has come from
the NHS. From April 2013 the responsibility for
funding sexual health services, including HIV,
shifted from the NHS to cash-strapped local
authorities across Greater Manchester.
With increased demands on local authority
budgets, the pressure is on to seek value for
money, which GHT has always provided for its
commissioners. However, a new dynamic has
been introduced, and that is the growing
interest in delivering HIV support services from
private sector organisations, that can under-cut
on price.
Our concern is that the quality of services may
suffer. Large private sector companies don’t
have people living with HIV at the heart of their
business, on their payroll or Board of Directors
as GHT does. Nor do they involve the end users
of services in the construction and design of
services, or have members to be accountable to
with a minimum 60% representation of HIV
positive people.
What we are concerned about is will private
companies deliver food parcels and a small
monthly personal allowance to destitute people
living with HIV (50 people currently)? Will they
give £140,000 per year to people living with HIV
who are experiencing increasing poverty and
financial hardship? And will they advocate for
positive people as GHT always has done and will
continue to do?
We already know the answers to these
questions. GHT has a huge task ahead, engaging
with the new funding structures and agendas of
both local and national government. We know
that our governance is strong and dynamic, our
staff are knowledgeable and experts in their
field, our volunteers are passionate and
generous.
Most importantly, our service users are at the
heart of everything that we do. Our challenge for
2013-2014 is protecting that. Nothing more and
nothing less.
David Teasdale & Rosie Robinson
Chair of Trustees & Chief Executive
We are not afraid of competition or change at
GHT, nor are we demanding special treatment.
GHT is a professional, well-run organisation and
our track record speaks for itself (as do the
testimonies of our service users).
DIGNITY
GHT believes that to treat someone with dignity is to treat them as being
of worth in a way that is respectful of them as a valued individual.
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RESPECT
GHT believes that this is best demonstrated by a willingness to show
consideration and appreciation for the feelings, wishes or rights of others.
GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
DID YOU KNOW THAT IN
2012-13 WE SUPPORTED...
1,902
People living with
HIV in the North West.
127
Dependent children
42
Carers
38,737
143
Destitute service
users received
weekly food parcels
and money to live on.
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instances of
services e.g. counselling,
1:1 sessions, advocacy.
GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
93%
There was a total of
1,762
one-to-one appointments
with our advisers.
171
of service users we
surveyed, believe we’ve
helped them to improve
their feelings of health
and wellbeing.
service users
received specialist
money and
debt advice.
98.75%
of our service users have
had overall satisfaction
from their appointments
with our advisers.
87.25%
95%
of service users feel
George House Trust
has improved their
knowledge and
understanding of HIV.
of our service users
believe we’ve improved
their relationship
with healthcare
professionals.
93%
There have been 413
counselling sessions,
12 health workshops attended
by 184 different people
and 71 volunteer driver trips
to hospital appointments.
of service users
believe we’ve improved
their confidence around
living with HIV.
3,785
welfare payments have been made to
service users – emergency payments
and applications for larger sums of
money from our Welfare Fund, to
those in financial crisis.
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Over
1,387
With a total value
£158, 378
An increase
of 15% on the
previous
12 months.
food parcels have been
distributed to service
users who are
destitute.
9,817
hours of volunteer
time given in 2012-13,
up 7% on the previous
year. This is worth
£106,533 p.a. to GHT.
GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
ROSALIND’S
STORY
JOE’S
STORY
Rosalind is a 49 year old Zimbabwean woman
who was gang raped in Zimbabwe. She came to
the UK and claimed asylum. When she came to
GHT she was destitute, and living on one chicken
wing a day to preserve the little money that she
had. Her shoes and clothes were worn out. She
was lonely, isolated and didn’t know if her
children in Zimbabwe were still alive.
Joe is a 31 year old gay man living Greater
Manchester, who has been using services at
GHT since 2006. He is in a stable
sero-discordant relationship (where one person
is HIV+ and the other is HIV-). Joe’s partner was
exposed to HIV following a condom failure, and
had begun a course of Post Exposure
Prophylaxis treatment (also known as PEP)
On top of all this she was living with HIV,
but had very little understanding of her
HIV diagnosis.
Joe and his partner were worried about the side
effects his partner was experiencing following
his PEP treatment. His partner was also having
problems at work, as his employer was
considering disciplinary action because of the
sick leave he had accrued whilst taking his
treatment.
Rosalind was matched with an African Peer
Support Volunteer to help her to understand her
HIV diagnosis and how to live a healthy life
with HIV.
She was helped when she ran out of money for
food and to get to hospital and immigration
appointments. When asylum assistance was
withdrawn GHT helped her to find
accommodation.
Rosalind enjoys much better health now and
adheres well to her medication. She regularly
attends Women’s Space, African Space, the
Coffee Morning and Health Information
Sessions and has developed a strong network of
friends. She is receiving counselling at GHT and
her emotional health is greatly improved.
GHT gave employment advice to Joe and his
partner, and wrote a letter to his employers
explaining the purpose of PEP, potential side
effects and his employment rights. GHT also
gave Joe and his partner reassurance about PEP
side effects as well as information about safer
sex and the risks of HIV transmission.
Joe’s partner was able to complete the course of
PEP without the additional worry of having a
poor sick leave record. And Joe and his partner
know that we are here when they need us.
While waiting for the outcome of a fresh asylum
claim, Rosalind volunteers in a local charity shop
and very much enjoys it.
EMPOWERMENT
GHT believes in empowerment as a goal for all service users in order to
have the freedom to act, think, respond, initiate and make decisions.
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INTEGRITY
GHT treats people with integrity through being honest and having
strong principles.
GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
”Rosalind was matched
with an African Peer
Support Volunteer to help
her to understand her HIV
diagnosis and how to live
a healthy life with HIV.”
The person in this photograph is a model
and is used for illustrative purposes.
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GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
VOLUNTEERING
AT GHT
9,817 hours of volunteer time given in 2012-13,
up 7% on the previous year. This is worth
£106,533 p.a. to GHT.
One example of our volunteering work is the
African Peer Support Service. Highly trained HIV
positive African volunteers are matched with
new African service users. This powerful way of
working achieves amazing results.
In a recent evaluation of this service we found
the following (maximum score 5):
Area of support
Average score befor
African Peer Support
Average score after
African Peer Support
2
4.6
Relationships, incl. family & friends
1.1
3.9
Feeling positive about life
1.1
4.5
Ability to manage HIV
”Peer support gave me the chance to share
my experiences with someone who understood,
and who could give me practical advice on
issues such as restarting my life and finding
love again. Peer support helped me to
understand that HIV was not the end of the
world. I realised I can still find a job and have a
relatively normal life. I was informed also about
positive-specific web dating sites and am
looking for a relationship now.”
RECOGNISING DIFFERENCES
GHT recognises that each individual is unique.
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PASSIONATE
GHT’s passionate approach is materialised into action to put as much heart,
mind, body and soul into our work.
GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
”I realised I can still find a
job and have a relatively
normal life.
I was informed also about
positive-specific web dating
sites and am looking for a
relationship now.”
The people in this photograph are models
and are used for illustrative purposes.
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GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
THANK
YOU
A sincere thanks to the following for supporting the important work of GHT:
Manchester City Council, Salford City Council, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, Stockport
Metropolitan Borough Council, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Trafford Metropolitan Borough
Council, Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, Wigan Metropolitan
Borough Council, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Eagle Bar, Richmond Lodge, Richmond Tea Rooms,
Churchills, Crunch, Company Bar, G-A-Y, Thompson’s Arms, New Union, Cruz 101, The Molly House, Baa Bar,
Taurus, New York New York, Oscars, Rem bar, Sanctuary, Icon, Via, Tribeca, Manto, 2022NQ, The Village
Bakers, Cooperative Respect LGBT Network, Gaylife Manchester magazine, Canal Street Manchester
magazine, Hot Village magazine, Manchester Evening News, Metro Newspaper Group, BBC Radio
Manchester, Brazen PR, Design by House, Lee Baxter, Manbears, The Tooty Booty team, S.L.U.T.S., Corptel
UK, Transport for Greater Manchester Contributions Committee, MAC cosmetics at Manchester Airport and
Manchester Selfridge’s, RoB of Manchester, Alder High School, New Charter Academy, Stop AIDS Society,
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Withington Girls School, University of Manchester, Unite the Union, Creative
Support, The Royal Exchange Theatre, Bury Boys Grammar School, Austin & Hope Pilkington Trust, Bank of
New York Mellon, Barclays Bank - cloakroom project, The Henry Smith Charity, Northwards Housing, Peter
Moore's Foundation, Estee Lauder Cosmetics - MACAIDS Fund, Big Lottery Fund, CWAC, , Elton John AIDS
Foundation, The Make a Difference Trust, Manchester Central, Manchester Pride, Manchester City Council Directorate for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, Manchester City Council - Equalities Team, Tesco Charity Trust,
United Utilities Trust Fund, Manchester Metropolitan University, The Volunteering Fund - Health & Social
Care, Vodafone World of Difference Programme, HIV Prevention England, University of Salford, Lloyds TSB
Foundation for England &Wales, The Monument Trust, Wright Robinson College, Awards for All,
The University of Manchester.
Our Ambassadors
Thomas Anderson, Richard Copson, Jackie Crozier, Nick Curtis, Chris Hague, Aoibhinn Macmanus, Steve
Myers, Rebecca Perry, Les Pratt, Kevin Sargent, Jamie Scahill, Ian Scott, Dr Ash Sukthankar, Darren Williams
and Adam Zane.
Our service users, staff, volunteers, trustees and all our numerous individual donors who generously
support our work on a regular basis.
VISION
GHT’s vision is for all people living with HIV in the North West to live happy and
healthy lives, and be free from stigma and discrimination. GHT’s vision is for all
people to know their HIV status and to be HIV aware.
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GEORGE HOUST TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2013
THE GHT
TEAM
Team GHT 2012-13:
a small team achieving big things.
AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR 2012-2013:
are available upon request by e-mailing [email protected]
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Registered office:
75-77 Ardwick Green,
North Manchester, M12 6FX
George House Trust is a registered charity
in England and Wales (No. 1143138)
and a registered company limited by guarantee
in England and Wales (No. 07575379)