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Brighton Based HIV charity seek Trustees to join its Board

HIV charity The Sussex Beacon, seeks new trustees to join the Board from September onwards.

Trustees are charged with helping the charity achieve its mission, setting strategic direction, checking progress against strategy and ensuring that the organisation is financially sound and compliant with all relevant laws and regulations. The Board meets formally six times a year.

The charity is looking for up to six new Trustees with experience in any of the following areas:

♦  Experience/knowledge of HIV

♦  Marketing, communications, fundraising

♦  Law

♦  Human Resources

♦  Financial control

♦  Building/facilities management

♦  Multi-site retail operations

Trustees would be expected to commit five to six days a year, including attending the six, two-hour board meetings, a half day retreat, plus relevant committee meetings. They are also strongly encouraged to attend public and fundraising events during the year.

The Sussex Beacon has had a difficult year after funding cuts put services at risk. Local support, grants secured from non-statutory funding bodies and a restructure have put the charity in a better financial position. The charity is now in the process of being re-designed to become more sustainable and less reliant on NHS funding.

Lynette Lowndes, Chair of Trustees at The Sussex Beacon, said: “The Sussex Beacon is a fantastic charity, recently rated ‘outstanding’ by the health regulator. As Chair, I’ve seen first-hand how it has saved and changed the lives of many people living with HIV. We’re now hoping to recruit some new Trustees who are passionate about what we do and who can lend their skills and experience to help secure the charity’s future. If you think you fit the bill, please get in touch, we’d love some new additions to our dedicated team.”

The Sussex Beacon provides specialist support and care to people living with HIV each year, offering both inpatient and outpatient services to improve health and promote independence. Those using the charity’s services may be facing serious HIV related illnesses, dealing with mental health issues or struggling to cope with the side effects of new drug regimes.

Recently rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, The Sussex Beacon provides first class care and support to those in need.

Those interested in applying to be a Trustee and would like application details, click here:

Suspended jail sentence and fine for flytipper

A flytipper from Brighton has received a suspended jail sentence, a fine and been ordered to do community work after dumping piles of rubbish in the city.

Charles ‘Charlie’ Brazil of Ridge View, Coldean pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates court on August 2 to flytipping near the Lewes Road rail viaduct last April.  The rubbish included laminate flooring, chipboard underlay and black sacks of waste.

Mr Brazil said he had charged a customer to dispose of the materials legally. In mitigation, Mr Brazil’s defence solicitor said his client had intended to dispose of the material at Wilson Avenue tip instead.

This would also have been illegal – businesses are not allowed to use domestic refuse sites like those at Wilson Avenue or Leighton Road in Hove.  They must by law dispose of their rubbish via dedicated trade contractors or facilities.

Among the rubbish was packaging bearing Mr Brazil’s name. He was summoned to attend court on July 19, but failed to appear. He was arrested on August 2.

Magistrates gave Mr Brazil a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years. He was also made the subject of a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement for three months and ordered to do 50 hours of unpaid community work.

He was ordered to pay the council £750 for legal costs, £500 for clearing the rubbish and a victim surcharge of £115.

Cllr Gill Mitchell
Cllr Gill Mitchell

The court ordered Mr Brazil to remove a caravan from the site within a few days.

Chair of the council’s environment committee Cllr Gill Mitchell, said: “This was an outrageous act of flytipping which showed zero respect for the city’s environment or the people who live here. We’ll always prosecute flytippers when we can identify them and urge the public to help us do that wherever possible.”

Leeds Beckett University host BiCon conference

Well Met Conferencing, the conference office at Leeds Beckett University host BiCon from August 10-13 at the historic James Graham and Caedmon venues in Headingley.

With around 400 people attending, 25% of who are attending for the first time, the event is set to be ‘the highlight of the bisexual year’”.

The weekend-long educational and social gathering for bi people, their friends, partners, and others with a supportive interest in bisexuality includes a number of events which combine the fun of a convention with the educational aspects of a conference.

You will find everything from light-hearted events which include a CaBiRet Lite and Sea Shanty Singalong to more formal seminar sessions such as Working class Bi’s and What makes us Bi.

As well as workshop sessions, BiCon also includes an onsite market, quiet spaces, safe spaces, a craft space and a games space.

Attendees are staying at the modern 3 star AA accredited Carnegie Village accommodation facilities throughout the event, with 270 rooms booked over the weekend. Located within the 100 acre parkland of Headingley campus, the en-suite accommodation was cited as a key driver in choosing an appropriate location for the 2017 BiCon event. With free high-speed Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchen facilities and excellent access for attendees with additional access needs.

Photo: Lauren Close
Photo: Lauren Close

Leeds Beckett University is recognised by Stonewall as one of the top British employers for its promotion of LGBT+ rights for both staff and students. The University’s LGBT group, the Rainbow Rose Forum, has worked closely with the organisers of BiCon to bring the event to the University for 2017.

Rachel Savage, Organiser at BiCon said: I am really excited that we have had the opportunity to use the very accessible campus in Headingley, the accommodation is great and meets all of our needs well, and the team at Well Met have been fantastic in helping us organise this event for the bisexual community.”

Clare Vidler, Conference Manager at Well Met, added: “We are very proud to host BiCon this year and are really looking forward to the wide range of events that they will be bringing to Leeds. Our Headingley facilities are fantastic for residential events such as this, with the convenience of our accommodation being on-site and the range of spaces available. As a University we’re constantly working to promote Leeds Beckett as an inclusive, safe and supportive environment, so it’s with great pleasure that we welcome BiCon attendees this year.”

 

Brighton & Hove LGBT+ communities to feature on BBC ‘The One Show’ on August 29

Members of Brighton and Hove’s LGBT+ communities will feature on national TV on Tuesday, August 29, in a piece commemorating and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality.

Rainbow Chorus
Rainbow Chorus

In the film George Montague, Brighton’s “oldest gay in the village” speaks about his experiences as someone who was convicted before the law was changed, and members of Brighton and Hove’s LGBT+ Community Choir, Rainbow Chorus are also interviewed.

The piece concludes with a moving rendition from the chorus of True Colours, the song made popular by Cyndi Lauper and a favourite from their repertoire.

Finola Brophy
Finola Brophy

Finola Brophy, Chair of Rainbow Chorus, said: “It was great to be invited to take part in the filming. The Rainbow Chorus is a diverse choir with members from different sexes, ages and backgrounds. This is important as the partial decriminalisation of gay sex between men was a step forward for everyone, including women and children whose lives were devastated by lesbian custody battles or when members of their family or partners were prosecuted. Discrimination remains an issue for LGBT+ people of all ages, and it’s not just something that’s historic. We’ve come a long way, but there is still much to do”.

Momentum to host city wide politics and music festival in Brighton! 

Following Jeremy Corbyn’s appearance at Glastonbury, Momentum, the grass roots campaigning organisation will host The World Transformed, a city wide, four day festival of politics, music and art as part of the Labour Party Conference fringe in Brighton from September 23 – 26.

The World Transformed banner at Brighton Pride 2017
The World Transformed banner at Brighton Pride 2017


The World Transformed, 
a city wide festival, will take place across nine venues in Brighton, including a theatre, a nightclub, and a church turned art gallery. Organisers expect thousands to attend!

Open to both conference delegates and the public, the festival will host over 200 speakers and artists including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, highly acclaimed DJs Horse Meat Disco, international award winning director Ken Loach, Guardian columnist Abi Wilkinson, Labour MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy, veteran and author Harry Leslie Smith, New Statesman columnist Stephen Bush, Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti, award winning theatre director David Thacker, newly elected MP for North West Durham Laura Pidcock and Mercury Prize nominated jazz and hiphop artist Soweto Kinch.

The festival will feature more than 160 hours of workshops, debates, live music, art exhibitions, children’s activities, plays, and parties, including a ‘political games corner’, interactive art exhibitions, pop up think tanks run by various groups including Mums for Corbyn, a four day Hackathon tasked with building the tools needed to win the next election, workshops on how to make a viral video, a play telling the stories of striking miners and live streams of the Labour Party Conference.

Jeremy Corbyn MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, said: “The World Transformed has shown itself to be a powerful new space on the Labour Party conference fringe for people to debate policies, exchange ideas, and expand our political horizon with arts, music and culture. Events like these complement the main conference, open up politics and help develop a strong campaigning movement to elect a Labour government for the many not the few.”

The World Transformed organiser, Anastasia Palikeras, added: “Unlike George Freeman MP’s Conservative Glastonbury invite only festival for 150 people, our city wide festival will be open to the public, attract thousands of visitors and span nine venues across Brighton. The World Transformed will be a chance to celebrate Labour’s extraordinary electoral comeback, while also debating the ideas that will shape the future of Britain and seriously considering what a Corbyn led government could achieve.”

Ticket prices are varied and include:

♦ £15 student and low income

♦ £20 standard ticket

♦ £30 solidarity ticket helps subsidise tickets for the unwaged

For more information about the event, click here:

Five days left to support Pride documentary Kickstarter campaign

Film makers are working on a new LGBT+ film called PRIDE? a documentary exploring the history of Pride in the UK, where it is today and where the movement needs to go.

In March a work-in-progress edit was screened at the BFI FLARE Festival. The Independent called it one of the 9 picks of the festival, saying PRIDE? “will no doubt be one of the most important LGBT+ factual films of 2017.”

Since then the film makers have been working on improving this already really well received film to take it to the next level.

They’ve captured new footage at Pride In London 2017, Trans Pride Brighton, 2017 and will soon be visiting Cardiff Pride to include as much of the story of the picture of LGBT+ Pride in the UK as possible.

New interviews with Lord Michael Cashman (one of the founders of Stonewall)  and Chris Smith Baron (Former Culture Secretary) along with other figures from the history of the fight for LGBT+ equality in the UK will also be included in the new cut.

Financial help is needed to bring this new version of the film to audiences. However, there are vital historic moments they need to visualise through archive film and photos, which is very costly.

A kickstarter campaign has been created to raise the £20,000 needed to do this.

Within 12 hours the campaign raised nearly £1,700.  They’re now entering the final week of the campaign with 60% of the funds raised, and just £5,000 still needed.

To make a donation and help them raise the final £5,000, click here:

Peter Tatchell and Lisa Power march with Outrage in London in 1988.
Peter Tatchell and Lisa Power march with Outrage in London in 1988

 

Brighton Sauna trial new HIV testing vending machine

and Gillian Dean

Brighton Sauna is the first venue in Brighton and Hove to trial new HIV testing digital vending machine.

Through the Department of Health HIV Prevention Innovation Fund (2016-17), The Martin Fisher Foundation have established a unique team of vending machine manufacturers, designers, clinicians and researchers to develop and evaluate a ‘next generation’ touch screen vending machine to dispense Biosure self-testing kits.

The Biosure HIV self-test is a CE marked 3rd generation HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody test which requires only a single drop of blood and gives a result within minutes, rather than sending a sample away to a laboratory for analysis and waiting for up to 1 week.

It became available in 2015 through online stores and at some clinics, but is expensive (£29.95), requires payment through a traceable credit card or bank account, or requires a person-person interaction to perform.

In contrast, this project will enable MSM (men who have sex with men) to obtain the HIV tests for free, in a discrete and anonymous manner whilst visiting the Brighton Sauna.

The prototype vending machine was placed in the Brighton Sauna on the June 16 2017. A previous survey of the sauna clients showed 93% would consider collecting an HIV self-test from the sauna.

HIV self-tests have been available at the Brighton Sauna since National HIV Testing week (2016) with high levels of acceptability amongst staff and clients. Most men report the testing procedure was easy to do and they would recommend this type of test to a friend.

The Digital Vending Machine (DVM): A bespoke wall mounted machine with a large digital interactive screen is in the foyer of the Brighton Sauna. When not in use clear visual messages about HIV testing, as well as tweets from previous testers automatically scroll across the screen.

Accessing a Test: When a client engages with the machine they are prompted to have their mobile to hand, and dial their phone number in via the touch screen. They then receive an SMS confirmation code via their phones which they type into the vending machine to release a test. The clients then give basic anonymous demographic information (age, HIV testing history and whether they are residents of B&H). The kit is then dispensed.

The Kit: The kit contains the Biosure self-test box, separate instructions for what to do after the test, depending on the result, and a contact details card outlining how to access support before, during or after the testing procedure.

Taking the Test: Clients will usually choose to take the testing kit away to perform later, although the Sauna does have the capacity to support use on the premises. Venue staff have undergone comprehensive training regarding HIV testing and the procedure to follow if a client has a reactive test. They will be able to offer appropriate support and advice, and signpost the patient to the Sexual Health Department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital for test confirmation and ongoing care.

Follow-up: Once the kit is taken away it is difficult to measure exactly how many are used and what results are obtained. In order to gather as much information as possible, users will receive a link via SMS messaging to an anonymous questionnaire on Survey Monkey with questions about the test.

Users will have the opportunity to share their experiences via Twitter and Facebook, with ‘tweeted’ comments appearing on the ‘home screen’ of the DVM, thus creating a live experience for future testers and the sense of a ‘testing community’.

Next steps: MFF aim to roll this model out to more mainstream venues across the city in order to improve access to HIV tests and close the ‘undiagnosed gap’ for the wider MSM (Men who have sex with men) community.

If evaluation of wider roll out is encouraging then MFF would foresee digital vending machines dispensing HIV self-tests being made available on a wider scale to other areas and populations across the UK.

The Martin Fisher Foundation (MFF) is a grassroots charity founded on the pioneering achievements of Professor Martin Fisher, whose vision and passion remains at the centre of the Foundations work.

By building on partnerships across the city, the charity brings together stakeholders working towards clear goals.

In December 2016 the Foundation realised their first goal when Brighton & Hove became the first UK city to be awarded UNAIDS Fast Track City (FTC) status.

MFF and FTC aim for ‘Towards Zero’ new HIV infections, which will be achieved in part by reducing undiagnosed HIV through improving access to HIV testing.

Their strategic goal is that everyone in Brighton & Hove is aware of their HIV status, and 100% of sexually active men (MSM) test for HIV at least annually.

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