Positive Life – Sexual Health Education Is Key to Reducing HIV Diagnoses

Chief Executive, Jacquie Richardson speaks on campaigning to create a positive sex culture and empowering those living with and a ected by HIV.

Positive Life is Northern Ireland’s only dedicated charity providing support for those living with and affected by HIV. It promotes positive living, prevents isolation, and offers practical and emotional support for individuals and families including partners and young children.

Positive Life has been making a difference to the quality of people’s lives for over 25 years but Chief Executive, Jacquie Richardson believes that more can be done in Northern Ireland starting with creating a safer sex culture that allows people to embrace a positive attitude towards sex, challenge mythbusting around STIs and empower those living with and affected by HIV to live long, fulfilled lives.

towards sex in Northern Ireland are still taboo

Jacquie explains: “At present, attitudes towards sex in Northern Ireland are still taboo and there’s stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding HIV. We have no need to be embarrassed about our sexual health and wellbeing. We should be encouraged and empowered to be in charge of it.

At present, there are 1, 234 people living with HIV in Northern Ireland and until there’s a shift in attitudes our service users will continue to experience feelings of isolation due to their HIV status.” is the key to removing prejudice and stigma and mandatory Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum. As it

Positive Life is actively campaigning for a dedicated Sexual Health Strategy to transform Northern Ireland’s future and ensure it becomes a place where being responsible for looking after your sexual health is as routine as looking after your dental health and is something that’s openly discussed.

“Educating more people on sexual health is the key to removing prejudice and stigma across Northern Ireland and this progress will lead to a reduction in new diagnosis... We’re actively campaigning alongside other organisations for a strategy that includes a standardised and mandatory Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum. As it stands each school develops its own RSE policy. Every young person deserves to understand sexual health and wellbeing and the important issues therein like puberty, consent, contraception and testing,” adds Jacquie.

Earlier this year, Positive Life launched the Northern Buyer’s Club, a new corporate partnership that will see the charity working with business leaders and supporting organisations to support its long-term strategic ambitions. Through its launch, Positive Life plan to commission new research, projects and a focused education campaign, and they’re currently looking for new businesses to get involved and help support those living with or affected by HIV.

Jacquie continued: “The work that we do is vital to those who access our support. Our hope is that our services can prevent isolation and build a safe space for people to build that all important human connection. Sometimes it’s to discuss the challenges faced living with or being affected by HIV, but often it’s to call in for a cup of tea and a bit of craic.”

For more information on Positive Life’s work and role in Northern Ireland visit positivelifeni.com.

We provide services for young adults between the ages of 16-30 years and provide them with support for emotional, practical and independent living skills.

We provide services for all members of their families.

SAIL – (Social and Independent Living) – provides fun, interactive and practical skills programme delivered 3 days per week throughout 7 council areas. Areas of support include Budget Cookery, Personal Development, Communication & more….

Freedom2Choose – a social programme based on a mainstream youth club model, which is held on a Saturday afternoon.

Family Voice Hub – offers drop in advice, support, signposting and therapeutic services for parents, extended family members and siblings. This service is based in our fully accessible centre – Lilac House, 4 Sandhurst Road, Belfast, BT7 1PW, 5 days per week.

Still relevant after 270 years!

Belfast Charitable Society, Northern Ireland’s oldest charity, has recently celebrated its 270th birthday and proved that it still remains as relevant and true to its original objective of addressing poverty and helping those in need.

As household bills soar with the costof-living spiralling beyond many people’s means, the Society has announced that it will release £270,000 funding through a series of partner organisations, from October 2022, to support practical solutions that directly help those suffering the most. It will also use its influence to encourage other funders to increase their support at this critical time.

David Watters, Chair of Belfast Charitable Society, explains “It is a sad indictment that the need today is just as great as it was 270 years ago when the Society was established. People are struggling to feed and clothe their children and pay essential bills; and only too soon will struggle to heat their homes. This can’t be ignored, and families and older people need help. We are stepping up to do what we can and want to encourage others to do the same.”

The charity is also marking this extraordinary long life by releasing a new book charting its history and the impact it had on the development of Belfast has been published. ‘The First Great Charity of this Town’ will be launched this November 2022.

For more information on Belfast Charitable Society, to make a donation or to find out how to become a member, visit www.belfastcharitablesociety.org or call 028 9099 7022.

Volunteer Scheme – we have a team of volunteers who assist in all of our services, and are always delighted when others apply to join working with the Young Adults assist

Have a look at our Website: www.autonomie.org.uk for more information.

For further information please contact Lynne Morrison at hello.autonomie@gmail.com or 028 9591 8051