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We are delighted that HIV Confident – the charter mark for businesses and organisations to tackle HIV stigma – has been awarded a further three years funding by Fast Track Cities.
The charter mark has today published Breaking Stigma, Building Confidence – a landmark report demonstrating the profound impact of the scheme over the past three years, and how HIV Confident is key to reaching the UK government’s goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.
HIV Confident improves knowledge, changes attitudes and builds confidence amongst staff, ensuring that people living with HIV can work for and access organisation’s services without fear of stigma or discrimination.
In its first three years, HIV Confident has had a significant impact on tackling HIV stigma across England with:
- 100+ organisations signed up across NHS Trusts, local authorities, third sector and corporates
- Over 20 organisations have achieved HIV Confident recognition
- 8,000+ individual responses to internal surveys and 10,000+ completions of eLearning modules
- Agreement that healthcare staff do not need to use extra precautions or different behaviour when caring for a patient living with HIV increased by about 70% after completing HIV Confident eLearning
With renewed funding, HIV Confident will be able to reach many more organisations, working alongside the NHS to end stigma in healthcare settings, and educate those working in other types of organisations who may not have ever thought about HIV-related stigma.
HIV Confident organisations have completed a programme that includes staff surveys, online eLearning, policy reviews and development of systems to report stigma. By signing up to be HIV Confident, organisations show a commitment to:
- increase employee knowledge about HIV
- improve attitudes towards people living with HIV
- build confidence for staff to talk about HIV and contribute to an inclusive workplace
- tackle stigma and discrimination
- provide people living with HIV a way to report any stigma or discrimination they experience
People who’ve completed the HIV Confident e-learning said:
- “I would really recommend people complete the HIV Confident training, even if you don’t come into contact with people living with HIV as part of your role, because you never know who could be affected by HIV. It’s such a brilliant training … one of the best e-learning sessions I’ve done.”
- “This was brilliant training. Simple, effective, myth busting. I am ashamed of my ignorance and will definitely pass on my new knowledge to others and address any stigma that I see in my everyday life.”
- “It was incredibly helpful to hear directly from people living with HIV. Their stories are powerful, and inspiring.”
Annie Howard, Senior Programme Manager, said:
“No-one living with HIV should face stigma or discrimination at work, or when accessing an organisation’s services, yet too often people living with HIV face this in many aspects of their lives.
Breaking Stigma, Building Confidence demonstrates the significant impact of HIV Confident in addressing HIV stigma over its first three years. The funding extension will ensure more organisations are ready to tackle HIV stigma and allow everyone with HIV to live well. It is our vision that every workplace and sector has the opportunity to become HIV Confident.”
Kevin Fenton and Jane Anderson, Co-Chairs, Fast Track Cities London said:
“Over the past three years, HIV Confident has grown into one of the most impactful anti-stigma initiatives in England. As funders of this programme through Fast-Track Cities London, we are proud to have supported a partnership that is helping to transform how organisations understand, speak about, and respond to HIV.
Yet, as this report makes clear, the work is not done. Stigma remains one of the greatest barriers to achieving the UK’s goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030. It can deter testing, isolate individuals, and compromise the quality of care. That is why HIV Confident matters so profoundly: it offers a practical, evidence-based way to help organisations live out their values of inclusion and equality.”
To help your organisation to become HIV Confident, contact [email protected].