Community
spotlight
Empowering women living with HIV
The Sussex Beacon is a Brighton based clinical care centre for men and women living with HIV . The centre offers a range of inpatient and outpatient services , including a specific service for Women and Families . This service strives to assist women living with HIV to gain confidence , obtain life skills , manage their physical and emotional health , seek support around relationships , and to confront a range of other issues .
Building confidence and teaching key skills
The women and families service offers a variety of courses and workshops . The Stigma Workshop supports women to recognise the impact that HIV stigma has on their lives . One woman who attended a workshop recently said : “ I ’ m so glad I came , I have met some amazing people and the course really helped me to look at how I see myself as a women living with HIV . After the course I can hold my head up high and feel that this illness doesn ’ t own me .”
The Sussex Beacon also offers Life Skills courses which enable women to face their fears around telling people they are HIV positive . The course helps to build their confidence and to cope with the challenges they face in their communities . The Moving Forward course supports women to write CVs and improve their interview skills . 86 % of the women on the scheme felt less isolated due to the increase in opportunities available to them .
The centre also facilitates complimentary therapies for women to enjoy . One woman who accesses the treatment said : “ I have no family or friends and just the simple gift of touch and having someone to care for me for an hour has made such a difference to how I feel . Knowing that the therapist already knew about my HIV meant I could just relax and get the most out of the treatment ”.
Changing lives for the better
Some of the women who access services at The Sussex Beacon are living in crisis . Last year , two women came to the centre were found to be living in cramped and damp accommodation unsuitable for their young children . The women and families team worked with them to provide the social and medical help they were in desperate need of .
One woman spoke of her experience . “ I was in such a desperate situation living in one room with 3 boys , I was scared and my mood really dropped , the community nurse was able to help me get a health visitor and support me with my medication . Paula from the women ’ s service has been visiting regularly and has been able to help me get food , clothes and housing advice . Just having someone to talk to that I trust has been amazing !”
By Laura Mcleod-Turner www . sussexbeacon . org . uk
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