Sahir House would like to invite you to this year s Annual General Meeting

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1 Sahir House September Newsletter 2017 Sahir House would like to invite you to this year s Annual General Meeting Being held on: Wednesday 27 th September 2017 Doors open 1.30pm with sandwiches, cake and drinks AGM commences: 2pm 3.30pm This year we will be looking at the IMPACT the work of Sahir House has on the community on Merseyside. Sahir House won the GSK IMPACT Award during this reporting year, a national award run with The King s Fund that recognises excellence in charities improving health and wellbeing in their communities. Please join us to celebrate this achievement. This is a public event and everyone is welcome 4 th Floor, Liverpool Central Library, William Brown St, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 8EW Please RSVP Serena Cavanagh info@sahir.uk.com Guests reading the annual report at AGM 2016 Disclaimer Articles in this newsletter are sometimes the opinion of individuals & do not necessarily reflect the opinions & views of Sahir House. 1

2 Support services news Changes to accessing support services You may have noticed at times the service team are extremely busy and that service users have to wait to be seen. This is due to staff increasing their outreach appointments and an increase in demand for services generally. To improve services, an appointment system will be introduced on a trial basis starting the end of September and reviewed in the January 18. What this means is that on the busier days, Tuesday s, Wednesday s and Thursday s, you will be greeted by a Sahir House staff member at reception who will ask who you are here to see and if you have an appointment. If you do not have an appointment you may not be seen on that day. If you have something urgent you will be given an appointment for another day unless a cancellation appointment becomes available. An appointment system is the most efficient way to ensure that service users receive the best possible support and is in line with how other agencies operate. For an appointment please ring or the office or book when next at Sahir House. On the above days if you require a travel ticket, they will be issued from reception when leaving the office. Alternatively, you can see a Sahir House support worker at one of the outreach clinics; see website, calendar or check with office for dates and venues: Liverpool Royal Hospital - Steve Southport & Formby Hospital - Kellie St Helens Hospital - Donna or Angela Arrowe Park Hospital - Donna or Steve MRANG Kath or Kellie Thank you for your understanding and you can leave feedback with a member of staff or use the comments box in the drop in. Steve Earle - Sahir House Services Manager steve@sahir.uk.com 2

3 W-SPOT and news Wirral Sexual Health, Prevention, Outreach and Testing Service W-Spot will be launching its HIV fast test service ready for National HIV testing week starting November 18 th The clinic will be every Wednesday 5-8pm at: Devonshire Resource Centre, Park Rd North, Birkenhead It s the world s fastest HIV test, with results with in one minute; click the link to see how the test is done For more info contact Emma Richards Prince Harry tested for HIV last year using this test kit to encourage others to get checked, check out Harry s video here Sahir House Service User Forum Friday 6 th October, 1.30pm at Sahir House Opportunity for services users to feedback their thoughts and ideas about Sahir House services. Contact Steve for more info Warm Home Winter Discount Scheme Service users may be eligible for a one off discount on their electric bills depending on your income/benefits. To find out more please contact Shereen at Sahir House to make an enquiry or book an appointment. Sahir House Volunteer Team Meeting AGE UK Wirral special guest speaker Thursday 14th September 5.30pm 7.30pm at Sahir House 3

4 Staff Team Member of the Month This month we are chatting to our Development Manager, Cath Turner What is your role at Sahir House? I head up the Health Promotion Service that raises awareness of HIV and reduce the stigma. My role includes delivering of HIV awareness and stigma reduction training courses for health and social care professionals. I work closely with the positive speaker s team and we provide up to date information about HIV, transmission, medication and the realities of life with HIV. Myths, stigma and discrimination are challenged and ways of being HIV friendly/ aware and testing services are promoted. Many participants have memories of the 80s tombstone adverts and have not had up to date training since. The training team also deliver equality and diversity courses to outside agencies. I also manage opportunities to volunteer, training and induction of new volunteers, staff and students on placement as well as organise ongoing training. As a senior manager, I provide line management to 6 staff ensuring they are supported to deliver the vital work they do. I am a member of the Trustees Policy Review Group developing policies and procedures. What Sahir House achievement do you value? I valued the ISO 9001 certificate, an internationally recognised standard, Sahir House achieved as this means we are more open to improvement and development whilst delivering quality services. I also value the amazing commitment the positive speakers have, and indeed many HIV positive people, in achieving and aiming for an undetectable viral load. This is no mean feat given how busy people s lives are whilst facing many barriers. This demonstrates that HIV positive people are leading the way in reducing transmission rates (not increasing them according to ill-informed public views) and creating a more HIV informed world for future generations. What prior relevant experience do you have to working at Sahir House that helps you in this role? Before working in Sahir House, I worked for the NHS in a community drug team and in a local authority drug outreach service. I also worked for many years in street and project based youth work. I have always volunteered in my spare time and still do, however my previous volunteering ventures have included Wirral Rape Crisis (now called RASA) and for local campaigning issues. I am a keen gardener and love walking in the hills. Thanks Gill Cath at Merseyside Police Academy after delivering HIV awareness training to custody suite staff. Pictured taken by GL. Next month, we hear from Angela English, Outreach Support Worker 4

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