2024
HIV Testing Week
We ran a social media campaign to raise awareness about HIV testing week events happening across the region.
We also ran our own events to promote the benefits of regular testing.
Julieanne also did an interview with the Newcastle Evening Chronicle to promote the campaign.
2023
We ran a community project to produce artwork for World Aids Day to show people living with HIV "are more than..."
We organised arts and crafts sessions at a number of venues for people living with HIV.
The Recovery College,
1 Carliol Square
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6UF
October 28th & 29th 2023
November 18th & 19th 2023
The Solway Hall, Lowther St.
Whitehaven, CA28 7SH
September 3rd & 10th 2023
October 1st & 8th 2023
U = U Event
17th March 2023
Civic Centre - Newcastle upon Tyne
2022
Monument One
Original Commissioned Artwork
by Henry Hate (b. 1968; contact: henry@henryhate.com)
U=U, Undetectable = Untransmissable; this is the incredible scientific breakthrough that means if a person living with HIV is on effective treatment, and their viral load is undetectable, then they cannot pass on the virus.
Monument One documents the milestones that have allowed people living with HIV to live longer, whilst paying tribute to those who are no longer with us.
Henry Hate is an American-born visual and tattoo artist living and working between London and Los Angeles. In his London shop, he has tattooed high-profile clients including Amy Winehouse. His HIV status was shared without his consent and he was 'outed' in the tabloid media in 2009, evidencing the stigmatised and ignorant treatment of people living with HIV.
His recent visual artwork weaves together a dialogue between classical techniques and modern popular culture, exploring taboos around sex, faith, sin, and salvation. This gives the viewer the impetus to question our own personal histories and see the world from a different perspective.
2021
U = U Campaign
If a person adheres to HIV medication, the virus in the blood reduces to undetectable levels. We can now say with complete confidence that people, living with HIV and on effective treatment, can no longer pass on HIV to others, even when sex is unprotected, this is called U=U which stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable.
We launched our U=U Campaign on the 20th October 2021
Nathaniel Hall from It's A Sin, who is also living with HIV, backed our campaign with lots of educational videos which went live on Vimeo and on our social media platforms which was then shared by our Steering Group, volunteers and other people in the community including Bauer Media Group, reaching 198,762 people (that we have been able to account for).
We had adverts on Pride, CFM & Metro Radio reaching a total of 1,915,000 people! We also spoke on various radio stations reaching a further 10,000 people!
2019
Our HIV Services Pop Card
We decided to develop and launch our own mini information card which we launched in time for World AIDS Day, December 1st 2019.
The pop card is printed in the style of a small business card which folds out to an A4 double sided sheet.
Information in the pop card includes:
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HIV Clinics
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Sexual Health Services
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Local services and groups
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HIV test information.
LET’S NAIL HIV STIGMA
This campaign was aimed at secondary schools and workplaces but really took off to include individuals!! The aim was to get as many people as possible to paint a finger nail Red on Friday 29th November and over the weekend until WAD on Sunday 1st December. As part of the campaign we encouraged people to talk to friends, family and work colleagues about why they had painted their nail Red thus raising awareness to a greater number of people.
We also encourage people to share pictures on their social media platforms, again raising awareness of HIV with the hashtag #LetsNailHIVStigma
The North East was the first area to have a ‘Let’s Nail HIV Stigma’ Campaign.
Below is a small sample of the photos sent to us and shared on social media.
