Surge In Demand For Edinburgh HIV Charity
An Edinburgh charity is urgently seeking extra volunteers after a surge in demand for help from people with HIV and Hepatitis C.
The Church of Scotland said Positive Help, an independent charity formed 25 years ago, already receives financial support from its HIV programme fund and individual churches.
But the charity is facing new pressures, with demand for its services increasing by around a quarter in 12 months.
Ray de Souza, chair of the charity's board, said: Demand for our services has risen almost 25% in the last year in the face of pressure on statutory sector services, an increasing number of people living longer with HIV illness and changes to the welfare benefits system.
We work with some of the most seriously-ill people living with HIV as well as with families affected by the disease.''
Positive Help supports more than 550 people throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Of the 190 sufferers who receive regular help, 35 are children.
Its services include befriending, home support and transportation along with a homework club that helps children to catch up in school.
Details of the charity's situation were revealed by the Kirk after the Moderator Rt Rev Dr Angus Morrison visited the George Street service.
He said I've been greatly inspired by what I have heard and would want to encourage the whole church indeed to get behind this work and to support it in every way we can.''
The Kirk's World Mission supports Positive Help through its dedicated HIV Programme Fund, contributing around £4,000 a year to help run a transportation service.