This World AIDS Day – as we encourage everyone to ‘Act Aware’ – NAT is delighted to launch their new ‘HIV Activists Network’.  The network has been established to give people living with HIV a stronger voice on a wide range of topics that matter to them; including stigma and discrimination, funding for effective HIV prevention, treatment and support, poverty and HIV education and awareness. 

The purpose of the network is to empower people living with HIV to take direct action on the issues that affect their lives, rights and wellbeing, at a time when more and more decisions are being made at a local level.  NAT wants to encourage those who feel passionate about this cause and provide them with tools to speak out, as well as make the voice of people living with HIV heard amongst the people who have the power to make decisions and bring about change.

NAT is inviting everybody to sign up and become an HIV Activist, whether you are personally affected by HIV or simply feel strongly about these issues.  The only requirement is the desire to be active and make a difference.

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), comments:

‘NAT is delighted to launch its new ‘HIV Activists Network’ on World AIDS Day.  This is an extremely important day and this year we are proud to mark it by launching the network.  We want to empower people living with HIV, particularly those who may not think of themselves as ‘activists’ or don’t feel they have the confidence to speak out, how easy it is to get involved with our network and make a difference.

‘We often get feedback from people living with HIV that they’d like to get more involved with our campaigning work but don’t always know how to or feel they have the facts at their fingertips.  We’ve created the ‘HIV Activists Network’ so we can support those who want to make a difference on the matters they care about and provide guidance on how they can do this.’

NAT will support members of the network by having eight to ten policy ‘asks’ that they can take action on at any one time.  Current ‘asks’ range from writing to your MP about how benefits cuts announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review will hit disabled people hardest, to asking your local school if their curriculum includes HIV.

If you are interesting in joining the HIV Activists Network or simply want to find out more, you can contact us at HIVactivist@nat.org.uk or 020 7814 6767.  If there’s something you feel strongly about and would like to see included as a future ‘ask’, we’d love to hear about it.

- Ends -

Notes to the editor:

Read further information about NAT’S HIV Activists Network here:
http://www.nat.org.uk/Living-with-HIV/HIV-activists.aspx
 
Real stories from people with HIV give a powerful insight into living with the condition and help break down myths and stereotypes. If you’d like to share yours, please submit your story here. 
 
If you are interesting in joining the HIV Activists Network or simply want to find out more, you can contact us at HIVactivist@nat.org.uk and 020  7814 6767.
 
For further information please contact: 
Charli Scouller
Communications Manager 
NAT
020 7814 6733 
press@nat.org.uk
 
NAT 
NAT (National AIDS Trust) is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to transforming society’s response to HIV. We provide fresh thinking, expert advice and practical resources. We campaign for change.
Shaping attitudes. Challenging injustice. Changing lives.
www.nat.org.uk