HIV Outcomes UK is excited to announce the launch of its comprehensive research project exploring the state of HIV Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) across the UK. This research aims to provide a detailed overview of the contributions of HIV-focused organisations and the challenges they face in supporting people to live well with HIV. 

The research will highlight the crucial role these organisations play in enhancing the health-related quality of life for those they serve and contributions to the delivery of HIV Action Plans. We will map the size and scope of HIV voluntary sector organisations across the UK, highlighting regional variations and assessing their capacity, funding, and sustainability needs. We will explore good practice and challenges faced by organisations and the communities they serve, emphasising the unique role of VCSEs in delivering care that people living with HIV value.  

By assessing the current capacity, funding landscape and intersecting needs of communities living with HIV, we will deliver recommendations to UK Governments, local authorities and health boards on what actions need to be taken for the UK’s HIV response.  

Central to this project are two surveys now open for participation: 

1. For people living with HIV: Share your experiences of accessing services provided by HIV charities and their impact on your quality of life. 

2. For HIV-focused voluntary sector organisations: Contribute insights about the services you provide, good practice, challenges you face, and strategies for sustainability. 

We encourage all communities and organisations connected to the UK HIV sector to complete the relevant surveys. The survey will be open for submissions until Friday 13 December. Your invaluable input will shape the report and meaningful recommendations for the HIV response. 

HIV Outcomes UK is committed to working closely with communities and HIV VCSEs throughout this research and there will be more opportunities to share insights and get involved in the months ahead.  

We extend our gratitude to the HIV Outcomes UK Steering Group and our project advisory group for their invaluable contributions to this ongoing research. Members of our research advisory group include Dr Nicoletta Policek, Professor Caroline Sabin, Wezi Thamm, Darren Knight, Dr Adam Williams, Daniel Fluskey, Ruth Burns, Juddy Otti, Grant Sugden, Amanda Ely, Professor Yvonne Gilleece, Jacquie Richardson, Drew Dalton, Steve Worrall, Richard Scarbrough, Peter Shand and Sylvia Nicholson. 

With National AIDS Trust providing the Secretariat, funded by Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare as co-sponsors, HIV Outcomes UK is a coalition of HIV experts working to improve the health-related quality of life for people living with HIV in the UK.  

Find out more about HIV Outcomes UK here.  

If you have any questions on our research, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at HIV.Outcomes@nat.org.uk.