Love is in the air…

This week is not just Valentine’s Day, but also Sexual Health Week in Northern Ireland. There could be no better time to shine a light on our Fast Track Cities pledge. Fast Track Cities is an exciting global partnership between cities around the world, all driving towards the goal of achieving zero new HIV diagnoses and zero AIDS-related deaths by …

Jacquie June Blog

6 Months Highlight of 2023 It is hard to believe that we are half way through 2023 – where has the last six months gone? For Positive Life it has been busy as we continue working for the well-being of people affected by an HIV diagnosis in Northern Ireland, and to remove the associated stigma. While keeping a focus on …

Our year as the Lord Mayor of Belfast Charity

By Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive, Positive Life. In May 2021 I received a phone call from our good friend and long-term supporter Kate Nicholl telling me she had been selected by her party colleagues to be the next Lord Mayor of Belfast and that she wanted Positive Life to be one of her mayoral charities. To be given the opportunity …

Do you talk to your dentist about your sex life?

Do you talk to your dentist about your sex life? At Positive Life we know that a HIV diagnosis is not the death sentence it once was, however, we also know that the uniquely associated stigma and ignorance around the condition is still alive and thriving in Northern Ireland. A recent incident experienced by one of our service users goes …

COVID-19

Over the weekend the reaction to COVID-19 has increased with further statements and decisions likely to be made in the coming days. It is a worrying time for all. On a practical level, we at Positive Life have taken all necessary precautions to ensure that we are providing a safe environment, adhering to health & safety recommendations, including regularly and …

Marking Sexual Health Week 2020

This Sexual Health Week we are calling for greater emphasis to be placed on Relationship and Sex Education in schools, to create knowledge and understanding about sexually transmitted infections such as HIV. More often than not, sex education at second and third level education teaches the basic elements, but fails to place an emphasis on maintaining good sexual health. This …

Supporting our Service Users navigate the complexity of support payments

Changes to the welfare benefits system over the past year has given cause for great concern from many who are partially or wholly reliant on support payments. The move to universal payments and the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in particular is one area that service users with us at Positive Life have highlighted issues around time and again. We have …

World AIDS Day 2019

This coming Sunday (1st December) marks World AIDS Day – The annual day for action and reflection for those people around the globe who are living with HIV or AIDS. At Positive Life we are working harder than ever to raise awareness of the now lifelong condition in Northern Ireland. However, we are doing that in a social environment that …