National Long Term Survivors Group receives grant from Elton John AIDS Foundation

National Long Term Survivors Group ( NLTSG ) has just been awarded a 3 year grant by the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) to help combat social isolation in people who have been HIV positive for longer than five years and who are unable to access local support.

The EJAF grant will pay for people from four target groups to attend an NLTSG ‘Living Proof’ weekend.  Firstly, people living in rural areas where existing services are either thin on the ground or non-existent. The second group is the over 50’s, which is a group that can find itself excluded from contemporary society and the social ‘scene’. The third group is people who have been living with HIV for over 10 years.  The final group is HIV positive volunteers and workers in the HIV sector who often have difficulty accessing support and services in their local area as they try to maintain a professional relationship with other service users.

NLTSG provides support and information for all adults diagnosed HIV positive for five years or more primarily through their ‘Living Proof’ residential weekend retreats. These provide a safe and secure environment where people can explore the issues surrounding living long –term with HIV and/or AIDS. The retreats offer discussion groups as well as complementary therapies, good food, rest and relaxation, which help to re-charge the batteries.  The supportive atmosphere helps people to develop a positive outlook, self-esteem, confidence as well as ongoing friendships.

NLTSG is run by HIV positive people, for HIV positive people, with a national membership based solely on a positive diagnosis of at least 5 years regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, etc,. Trustees are elected members of the group who administer the charity and organise residential weekends on a voluntary basis. We have no paid staff and truly are a self-help group.

NLTSG is grateful to EJAF for providing the funds to reach out to and support these target groups over the coming years.

If you would like to attend an NLTSG weekend, you can contact the Bookings Secretary at bookings@nltsg.org.uk or 07967 430797.  If you would like any further information about the work of EJAF or NLTSG, you can visit their websites at www.ejaf.com  and www.nltsg.org.uk.