Herts Advertiser Article on HIV

We spoke to the Herts Advertiser last week about the unfolding Hollywood HIV story.

We feel it immensely unfair that Mr Sheen has been forced to disclose his status, no-one should have to do this, and certainly not in such a public way.

The hysteria and hype leading up to this event has, we feel, set back the fight against HIV Stigma considerably. Echoing days of the 1980’s with sensational headlines and alarmist commentary does nothing to help, and forcing people to publicly disclose their status creates fear and misunderstanding.

This is immensely frustrating and damaging we feel, we spend so much time trying to undo this sort of misinformation and hysteria about HIV.We are very grateful for the chance to air our views, we wish Mr Sheen the very best and hope that this furore fades soon.

Our fear is that more sensational headlines will appear, prompting more misunderstanding, such as those in the last few days where a co-star feels they have been at risk from kissing Mr Sheen, which is ridiculous in itself.

Handled correctly this could have been a very good way to illustrate that HIV can and does affect anyone. However the way it has been handled makes it look like it only happens to those who are irresponsible and careless. This couldn’t be further from the truth, most of those affected by HIV acquired the virus from someone who didn’t know they had it, it only takes one mistake, one misjudged moment. Who amongst us can say we have never made a mistake?

Here is a link to the article:

http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/st_albans_hiv_support_group_chief_slams_media_over_charlie_sheen_coverage_1_4316452

Anyone worried about HIV can get a free HIV testing kit from us by post or in person, contact testing@thecrescent.org.uk, call 01727 842532 or call in during opening hours.

Support is available throughout, it is a completely confidential and free of charge, a simple test with no big needles you can do yourself, or onsite at the Crescent.

Free condoms are available from the Crescent either in person or by post, we wont ask any questions, you can just collect these from our site in Russell Avenue during opening hours (they are on a shelf in the entrance hallway) or we can post them to you, free of charge. Email info @thecrescent.org.uk or call 01727 842532 for postal services.

Condoms will protect you from a whole range of STI infections, not just HIV, and of course help prevent unplanned or unwanted pregnancies too. Protect you and those you love, use a condom always until you are sure of each other’s sexual health.

The Crescent Team

 

 

Testing Article in the Herts Advertiser

Dear all,

Another article in the Herts Advertiser about HIV testing and diagnosis rates, see here for more http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/st_albans_charity_urges_more_people_to_test_for_hiv_1_3988780

Also in the Watford Observer letters page last week talking about the chronic late diagnosis rates that affect west Herts…

Despite asking Herts County Council for funding for testing services for at least the last three years, they have refused to act… We introduced a postal testing service last year that the county council are still thinking about, and that the National Aids Trust recommend… Public Health Minister Jane Ellison announced that the Government is about to introduce a nationwide HIV home sampling service, just like the one we have in place already…

Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said in a news article this week: “We have protected the entire £2.45 million national HIV prevention budget, and have announced the first national home sampling service which will triple the number of sampling kits available.

Article about HIV funding is here

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/03/13/hiv-charities-deeply-concerned-over-allocation-of-hiv-prevention-budget/

So it seems that although we may be a bit low on funds at times it hasn’t stopped us introducing such initiatives, imagine what we could achieve if our funding was reinstated….

Strangely, despite the prevalence rates in west Herts being the highest, and the late diagnosis rates also being the same, way above national average, the County Council’s preferred HIV testing service have introduced a 2 hour testing service on a Saturday.. on the opposite side of the County, in Ware, where both rates are much lower… Whilst we welcome any attempts to encourage people to test regularly for HIV surely this would be better held in high prevalence areas, where late diagnosis rates are some 25% above the national average? just a thought…

Thanks for your support as ever

The Crescent Team

Fantastic reviews for our Stand Tall Exhibition at St Albans Cathedral

Hi All

We have had some great reviews for the exhibition of the Stand Tall Get Snapped Exhibition at St Albans Cathedral which has been running throughout National HIV Testing week and World Aids Day week, closing today at 15.45hrs.

We will share some of the visitors comments with you shortly as they are recorded in a visitors book, the Cathedral have commented that it is the best exhibition that they have seen in many years! It has been so thrilling to be able to exhibit the project in such an atmospheric place , and under the rose window unveiled by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1989, another great champion of people living with HIV

A link to the Herts Advertiser article is below http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/living_with_hiv_a_photographer_s_view_on_display_at_st_albans_cathedral_1_3864608

Huge thanks to all at St Albans Cathedral especially Richard Watson, to Edo Zollo the talented photographer, to all who participated in the project especially the Crescent members Chris and Rachel.

More news follows shortly, we finish our World Aids Day events with a busking day tomorrow at the Clock Tower in St Albans along with a stall in the main street market and collections throughout the city.

We hope you will come along to join us, as well as great music there is also a raffle for a huge range of prizes including a 40″ Toshiba LED TV…

Thanks for your support as ever

The Crescent Team

Hertfordshire County Councillors and St Albans City And District Council Help The Crescent

Please see the latest article in the Hertfordshire Advertiser talking about the kind assistance from our local County Councillor, Chris White, and also his colleagues from across the County, who have once again this year helped us by awarding sums of money from their locality to budgets to allow us to continue our work. We also have once again this year been awarded a grant from the community fund from St Albans City and District Council to help us with running our social groups and lunch events.

We are very pleased indeed to receive this support both from the City Council, and also from so many County Councillors who clearly recognise the value of our services to the community across the County. It is a grave pity that the County Council still refuses to acknowledge that we deserve some funding for the work we do and that nearly five years on we are still managing to provide the much needed support for people living with HIV in the County.

http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/cash_lifelines_for_struggling_st_albans_charity_1_3736556

Thanks as ever for your continued support and hope to see you at our open day on 21st September from 2 to 6pm

The Crescent Team

Busking Event Raising Funds for The Crescent 24th May St Albans Clock Tower

Hi all,

Please see the poster below for details of the Busking event to take place on Saturday 24th May from 10.30 at St Albans Clock Tower, High Street St Albans AL3 4EL along with a street collection raising funds to “SavetheCrescent”

Busking Event Poster 24th May 2014

Please do come along and show your support, there will be a huge number of local musicians on the day all providing great performances for your entertainment. If you are a local (or indeed one from further afield) musician and you would like to particpate please do get in touch as the day will be an open mike show.

Everyone welcome of course!

Thanks again for your support,

The Crescent Team

Wonderful Local Support “Saves the Crescent” St Albans Review

Hi All,

Another great article in the St Albans Review today describing all the wonderful support from local people and businesses recently that has helped keep us going and helping so many.

We are truly very grateful for all the help and support shown by so many kind people lately! Please help us repay their faith in us and spread the word about our forthcoming fundraising events on 24th and 30th of May so that we can keep on helping those in need of support across Hertfordshire and beyond.

http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/11187124.Crescent_charity_saved_from_closure_by__outstanding__support/?ref=var_0

Thanks again for your continued support

The Crescent Team

Our Member Rachel Talking Live on Sydney Australia’s KIIS1065 Tomorrow night at 8.25 (our time)

Hi All,

Following her appearances on TV and in the press in the two weeks our member Rachel will be talking to Sydney’s premier breakfast show at 8.25pm GMT tomorrow about her life with HIV. You can listen live here http://iheartradio.net.au/widget/player.html?station=kiis1065

The producers are sending us a recording after the show which we will share too in case you cannot listen online.

Thank you for your continued support

The Crescent Team

Stand Tall Get Snapped Project – at the Brighton Dome Monday 24/02 to 08/03

Hi all,

The fantastic Stand Tall Get Snapped has reached Brighton and will be running at the Brighton Dome from this Monday (24th February) until Saturday 08 March in conjunction with the Sussex Beacon.

As you may recall if you have been following us for some time, the exhibition of 30 different people living with HIV features Crescent members. We have been part of the project since launch in December 2012 at the Reading Rooms in Soho and has been to Manchester and Glasgow most recently.

More details of the event can be found here;

http://brightondome.org/event/4908/stand_tall_get_snapped/#.UwcvhZtJI3U.email

More about the fascinating and educational project itself here;

http://www.edlondonphotography.co.uk/stand-tall-get-snapped-trailer

and here;

http://sosogay.co.uk/2012/the-positive-project-fighting-hiv-prejudice-through-photography/

Entry is free so do go along to see this great project combating stigma

The Crescent Team

St Saviours Concert Update

Dear all,

A huge thank you to all those who came along to our fundraiser on Friday night at St Saviours. Thanks to your generosity we raised a marvellous sum, and with more still coming in! We are simply amazed by the wonderfully kind and warm spirited people who made the evening a huge success.

Warm thanks also to St Saviours who donated the venue, and to the Hertfordshire Chamber Ensemble for once again this year putting on such a fabulous show and to our own volunteers who put on a fantastic range of refreshments too.

Keep watching this space for more exciting news coming soon in the New Year, thank you for your support, and we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a warm, safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

The Crescent Team

Fundraising Concert At St Saviours Church St Albans 06 December 2013 at 19.30

Hi all,

Another event for your diaries, following the success of last year we have another concert at St Saviours Church St Albans AL1 4DF on 06 December from 7.30pm.

Tickets £12 (£10 concessions) now available from the Crescent on 01727 842532 or info@thecrescent.org.uk. Alternatively you can purchase on the door if you prefer.

It will be an evening of light classical and popular music from the Hertfordshire Chamber Ensemble again as last year. All the participants have donated their time free of charge, (as has St Saviours with the venue) to help Save the Crescent.

Hope you can come along to support us, every penny raised goes to helping those affected by HIV in Hertfordshire and beyond.

For more details see the poster below, (huge thanks as ever to Clive Batkin for the design work and his constant support, and to C9Creative for printing for free and at short notice too!) look forward to seeing you there !

Thanks for your support as ever,

The Crescent Team

Click here for a poster ! 2013 Concert CSG