TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST

Bridge to 2030 Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show

hosted by the Terrence Higgins Trust

Two members of the Pride at NEXT Committee, Andrew Jurd and Darren Hopkins, visited the Chelsea Flower Show last week, to celebrate the launch of our charity partner Terrence Higgins Trust's 20330 Club, hosted at their Bridge to 2030 Garden.

The 'Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 Garden' is a narrative of resilience, community and love.

The garden reflects on the lives of those who have been affected by HIV, from the fear of the 1980s to today, and our hopeful vision to end new cases of HIV in the UK by 2030.

Inspired by rejuvenated Welsh slate mines, the garden features a symbolic monolith stepping stone, a balancing boulder and an enclosed terrace space illustrating our journey.

 Together, we can end new cases of HIV in the UK by 2030 and your support is absolutely crucial to achieving this.

Donate to Terrence Higgins Trust here. 

An evening of Radio Magic 

hosted by the Terrence Higgins Trust

Andrew Jurd our Pride at NEXT Chair and committee member Charlie Driver attended a star studded fundraising evening celebrating Paul Gambaccini’s 50 year broadcasting career, hosted by our charity partners Terrence Higgins Trust!

The event, held at Quaglinos in London, included performances from drag queens, a kate bush tribute act, a trans cabaret artist and inspirational talks from Positive Voices representatives.

Terrence Higgins Trust Positive Voices Coordinator Sue Hunter also shared her experience living wth HIV with the audience, highlighting how being a Positive Voices speaker has changed her life. “Five months ago, I was gifted the most precious gift when my daughter gave birth to my first grandson and I know that I will do what I can to make sure he grows up in a less stigmatising world,” said Sue.

The evening had stories from Paul Gamaccini himself and he was a delight to meet in person. Andrew and Charlie weren't ‘too shy shy’ to ask for a pic with Limahl, taken by his lovely husband Steve. Thanks to Richard Angell, the amazing CEO of the Terrence Higgins Trust for the invitation!


See the full story here

Pride At Next Charity Partnership! 

If you would like to donate to the Terrence Higgins Trust, please use the dedicated donations link or text PRIDEATNEXT to 70085 to donate £1 or donate any amount up to £20 by adding the corresponding number after PRIDE AT NEXT.

THT is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, and the largest voluntary sector provider of HIV and sexual health services in the UK.

We have partnered with THT to continue Pride at Next’s commitment to actively shape a positive culture through our activities. We hope this partnership will be the start of a journey which will have a positive impact within the LGBT+ community at Next.

This is a new partnership that is launching on the 1st December and will coinside with World Aids Day. This is an important day for THT, Next, the LGBT+ and wider community.

Next, Together with Terrence Higgins Trust can:

"I’m thrilled Terrence Higgins Trust has been chosen by Pride at Next network as its first ever charity of the year."

We’re at a crucial point in the fight against HIV and our ambition is to ensure no one else receives a life-changing HIV diagnosis by 2030. But there’s a huge amount to do to make that a reality and raising awareness of all the progress we’ve made is crucial. And, in a year when we’ve been unable to hold events and shake buckets, we’re so grateful for every donation to support people living with HIV from our friends at Next.  

The diverse LGBT community and our allies have been with us since the very beginning when Terry Higgins became one of the very first to die of an AIDS-related illness and his friends and partner set up our charity to educate, agitate and share the facts about HIV. I’m so glad that continues today and that all Next colleagues will be championing our vital work and challenging the stigma still surrounding HIV.

Ian Green
Chief Executive, Terrance Higgins Trust

Who are THT?

THT was the first charity in the UK to be set up in response to the HIV epidemic and has been at the forefront of the fight against HIV and AIDS ever since. Named after Terry Higgins, one of the first people in the UK to die with AIDS, the charity was established in 1982. 

Over 38 years later they continue to support people living with HIV by ensuring their voices are heard, providing testing services for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, helping their service users to achieve good sexual health.

More than 100,000 people are currently living with HIV in the UK. THT is often the first point of call for people seeking expert advice and assurance, with the THT Direct helpline being a vital lifeline for many people living with or worried about HIV, or who have a friend, partner or family member who is living with the virus. 

As the shape of the epidemic here in the UK has changed, so has the charity. Existing services have been developed and new services introduced to meet ever-changing needs. In more recent years, the charity has also developed sexual health services – firstly for people living with or at risk of HIV, and then more broadly for the general population, especially young people who are most at risk of sexual ill health.

HIV is a complex condition, and even though advances in treatment mean that people living with HIV can lead long and healthy lives, there are still unique challenges that remain, especially for those who are diagnosed late. A lack of public understanding of HIV and its transmission means that their work and services are more vital than ever as a trusted provider of accurate information for people concerned about HIV.

THT's Work in 2020

This year the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all of our lives. Earlier this year, in direct response to the COVID-19 health emergency, the charity saw a 50% increase in demand for their counselling services and 25% increase in calls through their helpline. 

In response, they launched Terrence Higgins Trust at Home, an innovative digital platform expanding their existing key counselling services so that they can provide urgent support, free of charge, on one accessible online platform. 


Myth Busting

What is HIV and what is Aids?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. ‘Immunodeficiency’ refers to the weakening of the immune system by the virus.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a collection of illnesses (‘syndrome’) caused by a virus people pick up (‘acquire’) that makes their immune system weak (‘immune deficiency’). 

If untreated, people living with HIV progress from having no symptoms to developing illness and late-stage infection, ending with AIDS.

HIV treatment does not cure HIV, but it stops the virus from reproducing in the body. HIV medication reduces someone’s viral load to undetectable levels. Viral load is the amount of HIV in the blood. Once someone is undetectable, they can’t pass HIV on and their health is protected.

Today, people living with HIV can enjoy long, healthy lives.

How is HIV Transmitted?

HIV cannot be passed on by:

HIV is passed on through blood, semen, vaginal fluid, anal mucus and breast milk, if the person with HIV has a detectable viral load. It’s not passed on by spitting, sneezing or coughing.

Someone living with HIV and on effective treatment cannot pass on the virus. HIV medication works by reducing the amount of the virus in the blood to undetectable levels. Having an undetectable viral load, or being undetectable, means the levels of HIV are so low that the virus cannot be passed on.

How Common is HIV in the UK?

The most recent estimate suggests there were 105,200 people living with HIV in the UK in 2019.

Of these, around 6,600 are undiagnosed so do not know they are HIV positive.

Anyone can get HIV, but people from some groups or parts of the world are more likely to be affected. In particular, men who have sex with men and black African people are disproportionately affected. Of the 4,139 people diagnosed with HIV in the UK in 2019, 41% were gay or bisexual men, and of the heterosexual people diagnosed, 37% were black African men and women.

New diagnoses have been declining since their peak in 2005. In 2019 there was a 10% drop in new diagnoses from 2018.

Last year the UK continued to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target meaning 94% of those living with HIV being diagnosed, 98% of those on HIV treatment and 97% of them having an undetectable viral load.