Terrence Higgins Trust West

Aled Richards Centre
8 -10 West Street
Old Market
Bristol
BS2 0BH

Tel: 0117 955 1000
Fax: 0117 954 1200
Web: www.tht.org.uk
Best time to telephone: 10am - 4pm, Monday-Friday. Outside of office hours the Terrence Higgins Trust national helpline THT Direct can be contacted on 0845 1221 200. It is available weekdays 10am - 10pm and weekends 12-6pm. This service is available to all and is available in a number of languages.

Terrence Higgins Trust West is part of a national charity which offers a range of support and care services for people living with, and affected by HIV/AIDS, and sexual health information. Anyone with a concern regarding HIV/AIDS or sexual health information is welcome to contact Terrence Higgins Trust West in confidence for advice.

The services are provided free of charge, and currently include:

• HIV testing - Their FasTest clinic is run in partnership with the NHS. It offers confidential one hour HIV tests on Monday evenings from 5-7.30pm at their Bristol Centre. No appointment is necessary. the service uses a finger prick blood test.
• Volunteer Support Services - Anyone with HIV/AIDS is welcome to request support services. Volunteers are trained and provide regular one-to-one visits for a fixed period of time, usually in people's homes. Volunteers mainly offer emotional support, a listening ear or support with extending social activities to break down isolation.
• Open Access Services - People living with HIV and their friends are welcome to make use of the Open Access sessions, where they can chat over a cup of coffee, listen to music or just relax in a comfortable space. They can also talk to a member of the Community Support Team for advice on any issue without needing an appointment. The Open Access sessions take place twice a week in Bristol on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes, where cold snacks are provided. In Trowbridge, THRIVES Open Access sessions are available on alternate weeks. There is no Open Access service in Swindon.
• Counselling - Counselling can provide a supportive environment where people can clarify their thoughts, feelings and problems and work towards finding their own ways of coping.
• Complementary Therapies - A range of therapies, including massage, aromatherapy and reflexology is provided by professionally qualified practitioners. All the therapies aim to reduce stress levels, relieve aches and pains and help increase a person's sense of well-being.
• Support Groups - There are a variety of groups available which enable people with similar experiences to come together to share feelings, talk through problems and build a wider network of support and friendship into their lives. These include the Gay Men's Group, the African Group (UTS) and the Number 8 Group.
• Welfare rights and Advocacy - The Community Support Team can assist with applications for basic living expenses for people with HIV and on a low income.
• Hardship Fund - The Community Support Team can assist with applications for basic living expenses for people with HIV and on a low income.
• Positive Living - Positive Living is a group of HIV positive people offering help to other HIV positive people to get the best out of HIV treatments. They offer one-to-one support sessions, run Treatment Roadshows at local HIV clinics in Bristol and Bath, and work to improve information and treatment support services.

Terrence Higgins Trust West provides a range of information about local services for people with HIV/AIDS (across the West of England) and about general issues such as testing, ways of transmission of HIV, ways of protecting against HIV, help and support available for people diagnosed as HIV positive etc. For further information about any of their services please contact the above.

 
Checked: June 2006