This World AIDS Day we are running three major campaigns.

Visit www.worldaidsday.org to find out more and to support our campaigns.

Protect the next generation - help NAT get HIV education into the classroom

Join our campaign calling for the Government to make Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) compulsory within the national curriculum. Putting SRE at the heart of the curriculum, rather than as just an optional add-on, would help ensure young people are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves (and others) from HIV, while making them aware of the realities of living with HIV in the UK today. Click here to read more and get involved.

Demand action from MPs on HIV stigma

Join our campaign calling for greater efforts by the Government to address HIV stigma by writing to your MP asking them to sign up to NAT's Early Day Motion (EDM).  An EDM is a statement which MPs can sign to show their support for a particular issue or campaign.  We are asking MPs to sign up, to call on the Government to develop a strategic plan to reduce HIV-related stigma, as an integral part of our national response to HIV.  Click here to read more and get involved.

Improve services in your local area

Increasingly decisions about HIV prevention and services for people living with HIV are being made at a local level.  Decision makers in your local area, such as local authorities and until 2013 primary care trusts, decide what health services the local community needs and how much money to spend on them.  HIV is not a priority for a lot of area, meaning that people are not being told the facts about HIV and how to prevent infection, are not being diagnosed quickly enough, and are not receiving the services and support they need when they are diagnosed.

If you want to take action to make sure that HIV is prioritised in your local area visit the SHout Loud website: www.shoutloud.org.uk.  You can find out the facts and figures for HIV and sexual in your area and take action on a range of issues, including safeguarding local HIV social care, and writing to your local education authority about sex and relationships education. 

Become an HIV Activist

The HIV Activists Network is a virtual group of people who are passionate about the rights of people living with HIV and the importance of HIV education, prevention, testing, rights and equality.

The network has been established to give everyone who cares about HIV an opportunity to get involved in NAT's campaigning work and give people living with HIV a greater voice on the topics that matter to them – such as health, benefits, and discrimination — and the tools and resources to make this happen.

There are no rules or restrictions on who can join the network — it's open to anyone who wants to get involved and make a difference. Some people may shy away from the term 'activist', thinking they'll need to be loud, visible, and knowledgeable on complex subjects. But with the HIV Activists Network, you don't need to be any of these things. All you need is a desire to bring about change — NAT will provide all the information and support you need.

Find out more about other campaign actions and the HIV Activists Network here or contact HIVactivist@nat.org.uk.

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.