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 …

We need to talk about Stigma

One of most damaging parts of an HIV diagnosis is something that isn’t talked about much. The stigma around HIV means that many people become socially isolated. Some feel like once they have been diagnosed, they aren’t allowed to have personal or intimate relationships and find themselves with crippling loneliness which can lead to depression and other mental health problems. …

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 …

HIV Testing in the UK

A few thoughts on the latest report on Testing in the UK By Jacquie Richardson, Chief Executive, Positive Life. This morning, the Westminster All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDS published a report following its inquiry into testing in the UK. The report is the result of consultation with 36 different organisations and individuals from each of the four UK …

I have a favour to ask…

Until a couple of weeks ago the phrase ‘It’s a sin’ brought memories of disco nights dancing to the Pet Shop Boys 1987 number one hit – yip…I’m really that old! More recently though, it’s left me thinking about the characters of the Russell T Davies mini-series of the same name and reflecting on their experiences – testing; PPE; isolation; …

Sexual Health Clinics are a viable and confidential Covid-19 vaccination setting

Positive Life, the only charity in Northern Ireland for people living with HIV, has called for sexual health clinics to be used to administer the Covid vaccine for people living with HIV as the vaccination programme is set to move into its second stage. Belfast Health & Social Care Trust have begun to issue letters informing people living with HIV …