News from Body Positive Dorset
New question and answer service
We are operating a personal question and answer service using email. If you have any questions about HIV/AIDS, please send them to hivawareness@bodypositivedorset.org. Launch email software to send an email.
Answers to the Body Positive Dorset Quiz held at Bourne Free
In which year did sex between men and women account for more than 50% of new HIV diagnoses in the UK:
A: 1999 B: 2003 C: 2006
Answer B:
2003. In this year, while 2082 men were infected as a result of sex with men, a staggering 4600 people were infected as a result of heterosexual intercourse – 63% of the total for that year. It was in 1999 that heterosexual diagnoses first exceeded those for men who have sex with men. In 2006, a slight dip in new diagnoses meant that 41% were as a result of men who have sex with men and 45% heterosexual intercourse. ___________________________________________________________________________________
Which of the following is the name of a test frequently used to detect HIV:
A: The Southern Smear B: The Eastern Block C: The Western Blot
Answer C – The Western Blot.
Most people in the UK are originally tested using ELISA or EIA test. When this first test provides a ‘positive result’, the more specific, more expensive Western blot test is used to eliminate ‘false positives.
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In the UK, as of March 2007, what % of people living with HIV was infected as a result of injecting drug use?:
A: 5% B: 15% C: 25%
Answer A – 5%.
A total of 4,624 people which is 5% of the total number of people living with HIV. Early introduction of effective needle exchange schemes has maintained transmission through this route at a relatively low rate. In some countries, where such schemes have not been adopted, this route accounts for significantly higher percentages of people living with HIV
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Is it safe to be around someone who has HIV
A: Yes B: Yes, but don’t touch them C: Should be avoided
Answer A
It is quite safe to work, study or play with people who are HIV +/AIDS. Everyday contact with
Adults and children who have HIV/AIDS is safe.
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Who can get HIV?
A: Only Gay Men B: Only drug users C: Anyone
Answer C
Anyone who has unprotected sex or shares needles could get HIV. You are not protected from HIV just because you are young, old, male or female, HIV is not prejudice if you are having sex without a condom or sharing needles it could be you next.
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How could you get HIV
A: Sharing a toothbrush B: Semen, Vaginal fluids, breast milk and blood.
C: Sharing a bath
Answer B
The transferring of Semen, Vaginal fluids, breast milk and blood by someone that is HIV+ to another person could infect them with HIV, the only way to find out for sure if this has happened is to go and have a simple test at your local GUM clinic.
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Are women who have sex with women at risk of getting HIV?
A: Of course not B: Yes of course C: Only if they sometimes have sex with men.
Answer B
Lesbians and women who have sex with women (WSW) can be infected with HIV just like anyone else. Due to the lack of information and research about WSW HIV transmission, many women believe they are not at risk. The reality is that female to female transmission is biologically possible even though it is uncommon. It is important to remember that lesbians or WSW, sometimes engage in other behaviours that put them at risk, including unprotected sex with men, injection drug use and alternative insemination.
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What does HIV stand for?
A: Human Immunodeficiency Virus B: Human Information Version C: Human Immunity Virus
Answer A
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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How risky is oral sex?
A: Its risk free B: Only if it is two men it is risky C: It’s a bit risky for everyone
Answer C
Oral sex is the sucking or licking of someone genitalia. Most experts agree that having unprotected oral sex is not as risky as having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse but oral sex is not risk free because the skin inside the mouth is stronger and thicker and less likely to tear during oral sex, allowing fewer opportunities for HIV to enter the bloodstream.
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Question 10 was the decider Question
The number of people getting HIV in England has gone up by 88% in the last 5 years because
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Thank you
Smoking will not be allowed in the Support Centre building.
From the 24th of November Smoking will not be allowed in the Support Centre building. On that day the smoking room will be closed for redecoration and re opened as the computer room. This decision has been made following a meeting with the Support Centre Members and the Trustees. If you have any views or comments to make regarding this decision please contact Barbara Heffernan, Executive Director.
New beginners Yoga classes
New weekly beginners Yoga classes guided by Amba will be starting at the centre on Thursday 16 November. Amba is an integral Yoga teacher who welcomes all levels to the class. classes will focus on bringing peace and balance through gentle asana (hatha or posture work) and include a guided deep relaxation (yoga nidra) and breathing practices (pranayama) which help to detoxify the physical body and promote energy and a deep feeling of peace and wellbeing.The classes will start at 17:30 and finish at 19:00. The cost is £2 per person, payable when booked. As the places are limited to 10 people, sessions need to be booked in advance at reception.
Body Positive Dorset is presented with the Queens Award for Voluntary Service
On Thursday 17th August 2006 at 3.00pm, Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset presented the Queens Award for Voluntary Service to the longest serving Trustee of Body Positive Dorset, Anne Richardson. The presentation took place at the Support Centre with about 50 people in attendance including The Worshipful The Mayor and Mayoress of Bournemouth, The Mayor and Mayoress of Christchurch, The Mayor of Poole and the Chairman of East Dorset District Council.
During her speech Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset said that this was a major award as Body Positive Dorset was the only charity in the area to receive the Queens Award this year and it was very fitting as it was also the charities 20th Anniversary. On behalf of Her Majesty she thanked all the volunteers and staff who had worked for the charity over the last 20 years.
Tim our Chairman and the HM Lord Lieutenent
Body Positive Dorset has won first prize in the Bournemouth in Bloom competition
First prize was awarded in the Public Sector, Day Centres, category. Our thanks go to Colin who has spent many hours working on the garden, and also to all the volunteers who have helped with the weeding and watering etc. Plus JP Morgan who helped and paid for the patio.
Body Positive Dorset has been awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service
To celebrate her Golden Jubilee, The Queen announced an annual Award to recognise and reward excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (formerly known as The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award) is given for outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who:
- regularly devote their time to helping others in the community
- improve the quality of life and opportunity for others
- provide an outstanding service
Body Positive Dorset is an organisation that offers both emotional and practical advice. It offers support to people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS in the Dorset area. The organisation helps over 350 people, providing a place for those who have HIV with somewhere to relax, socialise and seek advice.
The Group was founded in 1986 by a group of local people whose lives had been affected by HIV and AIDS and in reaction to the minimal understanding or support available to them in the local area. They wanted to create an environment that would offer positive support and education to those affected by the disease, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnic origin or religious belief.
Over the 20 years since then, the organisation has gone from strength to strength, securing funding for a dedicated support centre, 24-hour helpline and a range of holistic and alternative therapies to help those affected. The centre also offers counselling, peer support groups, advice clinics, regular club nights, barbeques, and a lounge area for people to meet up and socialise.
Users of the centre recognise that the centre offers a safe haven, which is both welcoming and safe from discrimination, abuse or criticism at a very difficult time in their lives. Body Positive Dorset itself has been subject to such discrimination, facing local opposition on applying for funding for the support centre. It is to the credit of the 32 volunteers who not only man and maintain the centre 5 afternoons a week and the helpline 24 hours a day, but also engage in fund raising, public relations and educational out-reach to local schools and hospitals, that Body Positive's work has since earnt the respect and recognition of the local community.
The organisation is also closely affiliated to the local GUM clinic, which encourages its patients to contact Body Positive Dorset for help and advice after they are diagnosed.
Director Barbara Heffernan said: 'Everyone at the centre could not be more delighted at being recognised for this Award. The Award recognises the hard work of all the volunteers and support staff who are or have been involved with Body Positive Dorset over the years, and is especially fitting as the organisation is celebrating its 20th anniversary. We hope that the Award will also help to highlight the need for centres like Body Positive Dorset, and ensure that people recognise that HIV and AIDS remain issues in our society which cannot be ignored.'
Body Positive Dorset receives National Lottery Grant
Staff of Body Positive Dorset in Bournemouth are celebrating after receiving a grant of £5,000 from the National Lottery’s Awards for All programme.
The grant will allow the charity to train people to become Volunteer HIV Awareness Training Facilitators. Up to 12 people will be recruited and once trained they will be working with Bournemouth & Poole College and other groups to provide much needed information on HIV.
Body Positive Dorset’s Director, Barbara Heffernan said: We are thrilled to get this award today, we have been trying along with Bournemouth and Poole College for over a year to get this project of the ground and now we will have people ready to do training by the start of the new term in September. We have worked really hard to develop this project and to write the application. Now we have the money it is time for the real work to start.
If anyone would like further information or would like to volunteer for this project please contact Barbara on: 01202 297386
Change to therapy charges from 1st April 2006
Following a meeting with our main funders (Bournemouth P.C.T. and Bournemouth Social Services), they have confirmed that when the new funding year starts on 1st April 2006, the cost of therapies will no longer be covered by them from core funding.
The trustees of Body Positive Dorset feel that this would be a sad loss of service that has been of benefit to many of our service users. After careful consideration to try and maintain a therapy service, the following has been agreed:
- A mandatory charge of £5.00 will be made to service users towards the cost for each therapy
- The mandatory charge will be collected at the time of reservation (no payment - no reservation)
- Payments made are non refundable/non transferable under any circumstances
- In the event of the service user cancelling, failing to attend etc, the monies paid will be given to the therapist
- Full details of the new "Cancellation of Therapies" policy can be found in the "policies and procedures" handbook
- The above takes effect from 1st April 2006
We hope that you will continue to use the therapy service provided by our qualified therapists.
If you have any questions with reard to this matter, please do not hesitate in contacting the centre.
