HIV/AIDS & ME:
Since 1988 until 2008, I had been committed and significantly involved in HIV/AIDS campaigning, education, training, awareness-raising and service provision.
This particularly included being actively involved with 'Leicestershire AIDS Support Services' (LASS), initially for 2 years as a Volunteer and Management Committee member and then 18 years as an employee, being awarded 'Honorary Life Membership' of LASS at the AGM on 27th November 2008, in recognition of the significant contribution made to the HIV and AIDS field.
Originally employed as 'Training Development Officer' on a three year contract, I was employed after this period on a more permanent basis; and in 1995 was upgraded to 'Training & Development Manager' due to competence, significant development, and rising need and workload, with increased responsibilities, including:
Training & Development: Developing, managing, administrating and delivering consultancy, awareness-raising and training, talks, workshops and presentations for over 17,000 people (paid and voluntary workers), from hundreds of varied groups and organisations from voluntary, statutory and private sectors, involving small community and neighbourhood groups; schools; colleges; police; prison service; health; social care; and local authorities, particularly regarding HIV/AIDS; Hepatitis; Sexual Infections; TB, Care issues; Children & Families; Asylum Seekers/Refugees; and legal obligations under the ‘Disability Discrimination Act’, to develop knowledge, awareness and improve working practices.
Volunteering & Volunteer Management: Creating Volunteering Programme from scratch; developing it; devising policy and good practice; and managing the recruitment, selection, administration, training and support of over 450 Volunteers, and devising, delivering, monitoring and evaluating extensive innovative training, especially regarding being involved as a Volunteer; Personal Safety; Befriending, Equal Opportunities; Health & Safety; Confidentiality etc.
‘Investing in Volunteers’ & Good Practice: Following a successful funding application I made to pay for it, being lead worker for our recent application for ‘Investing In Volunteers’ accreditation that was successfully awarded in Oct 2007; including development of appropriate policy, procedures, etc; and also initiating PQASSO Quality Assurance system, particularly in relation to achieving Level 2 (and now Level 3) in Volunteering.
Recruitment and supervision of paid staff, Volunteers & Student Placements.
Practice Teacher/Supervisor for numerous Student Placements, particularly from Social Work & Community Work courses.
‘Open College Network’ Accreditation for Volunteer Training: Being developer & assessor of theaccreditation for volunteer involvement with 25 volunteers having their knowledge and experience recognised by ‘Open College Network’ during 1995-98; and also being a programme moderator & steering group member on behalf of ‘Open College Network’ for a local Youth Peer Health volunteering project.
Trainer and ‘Trainers Group’ member with the ‘Safeguarding Adults’ from abuse multi-agency initiative for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland.
Policies, Procedures & Guidelines: Developing wide range of policies, procedures, agreements and handbooks, especially regarding Volunteering; Training; Equal Opportunities; Criminal Prosecution of HIV Transmission; Health and Safety at Work, Blood-borne infections; TB; CRB Checking, etc.
Health & Safety at Work (as designated & trained Health & Safety Officer).
Personal Safety (as an accredited tutor with ‘Suzy Lamplugh Trust’), especially in relation to being safely involved as a Volunteer.
Publicity, marketing, writing articles; extensive press and media work; and development of materials.
Monitoring/Evaluation/Statistics: Initially of our Service Users, as well as regarding Volunteers, Volunteering and Training.
For 20 years, I was at the forefront and beginning of the creation and development of a major HIV/AIDS voluntary organisation/charity and of HIV/AIDS responses and services in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland, campaigning for the rights of people living with HIV; challenging the ignorance, prejudice and discrimination that some of the already most marginalised people were facing; and fighting for the funding and recognition of local support services.
During this time, I created, administered, maintained and continually developed our extensive Volunteer Programme, and the recruitment, involvement and support of over 450 volunteers (with 170 active Volunteers at our height), being responsible for the creation and delivery of all volunteer training, having our quality recognised by being East Midlands Regional ‘Make A Difference’ Volunteering Award Winners in 1995, presented by the UK Home Secretary; and then being lead officer for the successful awarding in 2007 of the national ‘Investing in Volunteers’ accreditation.
I also created, developed and was a major trainer for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland of the LASS extensive, respected and well evaluated Training Programme for over 17,000 people (paid and voluntary workers), from hundreds of varied groups and organisations from voluntary, statutory and private sectors, involving small community and neighbourhood groups; schools; colleges; police; prison service; health; social care; and local authorities, particularly regarding HIV/AIDS; Hepatitis; Sexual Infections; Tuberculosis (TB), and issues regarding Care; Health; Health & Safety; Children & Families; Asylum Seekers/Refugees; and legal obligations under the ‘Disability Discrimination Act’, to develop knowledge, awareness and improve working practices.
From the many thousands of evaluations I have received through my training work, I have always been highly regarded and rated.
During 2006-2007, 454 people, covering 40 different sessions, scored myself as trainer 2097 out of 2270 (97% rating), an average score per person of 4.6 out of a possible 5.0 (‘Good/Very Good’), with ‘Presentation’ being rated at 90%, an average of 4.5 out of 5.0; and ‘Enjoyment’ rated at 86%, an average of 4.3.
In addition, over 6 years (covering 206 different sessions with 2376 people) I received an overall score as a trainer of 10908 out of 11930 (91% rating), an average score per person of 4.6 out of a possible 5.0 (‘Good/Very Good’); with ‘Presentation’ being rated at 88% (an average of 4.4); and ‘Enjoyment’ rated at 86% (an average of 4.3); and relating to Equal Opportunities issues at 87% (an average of 4.0). Overall, receiving a total score of 106314 out of a possible 119300 (89% satisfaction), an average score per participant of 4.5 out of 5.0 ("Good/Very Good").
I have thousands of complementary comments from participants regarding my work and training, the benefits it has made to them, and my “knowledgeable”, “friendly”, “relaxed” and “participatory approach”, treating people as individuals with “respect” and “courtesy”, which gives me immense satisfaction and confidence.
This has also involved, particularly through group work, training and consultancy, helping others to review, recognise needs, develop knowledge, and good practice, including regarding Volunteering, develop ways to put things into action
In February 2008, following the appointment four months earlier of a new CEO and subsequently a decision by the Board of Trustees, I was informed that due to so-called proposed 'restructuring' of the organisation, the post of 'Training & Development Manager' would no longer exist, causing me to be 'at risk of redundancy'. As no suitable alternative employment within the agency about how 20 years of significant experience could be used was proposed, I was made redundant and left LASS after 20 years involvement (18 years employment & 2 years a a Volunteer) on 22nd February 2008.
I subsequently was awarded Honorary Life Membership of LASS.
For my thoughts on LASS & Me, visit the section on this website.
Link:
Listen to an interview on the BBC Radio Leicester website at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2007/11/30/world_aids_day_feature.shtml
Since 1988 until 2008, I had been committed and significantly involved in HIV/AIDS campaigning, education, training, awareness-raising and service provision.
This particularly included being actively involved with 'Leicestershire AIDS Support Services' (LASS), initially for 2 years as a Volunteer and Management Committee member and then 18 years as an employee, being awarded 'Honorary Life Membership' of LASS at the AGM on 27th November 2008, in recognition of the significant contribution made to the HIV and AIDS field.
Originally employed as 'Training Development Officer' on a three year contract, I was employed after this period on a more permanent basis; and in 1995 was upgraded to 'Training & Development Manager' due to competence, significant development, and rising need and workload, with increased responsibilities, including:
Training & Development: Developing, managing, administrating and delivering consultancy, awareness-raising and training, talks, workshops and presentations for over 17,000 people (paid and voluntary workers), from hundreds of varied groups and organisations from voluntary, statutory and private sectors, involving small community and neighbourhood groups; schools; colleges; police; prison service; health; social care; and local authorities, particularly regarding HIV/AIDS; Hepatitis; Sexual Infections; TB, Care issues; Children & Families; Asylum Seekers/Refugees; and legal obligations under the ‘Disability Discrimination Act’, to develop knowledge, awareness and improve working practices.
Volunteering & Volunteer Management: Creating Volunteering Programme from scratch; developing it; devising policy and good practice; and managing the recruitment, selection, administration, training and support of over 450 Volunteers, and devising, delivering, monitoring and evaluating extensive innovative training, especially regarding being involved as a Volunteer; Personal Safety; Befriending, Equal Opportunities; Health & Safety; Confidentiality etc.
‘Investing in Volunteers’ & Good Practice: Following a successful funding application I made to pay for it, being lead worker for our recent application for ‘Investing In Volunteers’ accreditation that was successfully awarded in Oct 2007; including development of appropriate policy, procedures, etc; and also initiating PQASSO Quality Assurance system, particularly in relation to achieving Level 2 (and now Level 3) in Volunteering.
Recruitment and supervision of paid staff, Volunteers & Student Placements.
Practice Teacher/Supervisor for numerous Student Placements, particularly from Social Work & Community Work courses.
‘Open College Network’ Accreditation for Volunteer Training: Being developer & assessor of theaccreditation for volunteer involvement with 25 volunteers having their knowledge and experience recognised by ‘Open College Network’ during 1995-98; and also being a programme moderator & steering group member on behalf of ‘Open College Network’ for a local Youth Peer Health volunteering project.
Trainer and ‘Trainers Group’ member with the ‘Safeguarding Adults’ from abuse multi-agency initiative for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland.
Policies, Procedures & Guidelines: Developing wide range of policies, procedures, agreements and handbooks, especially regarding Volunteering; Training; Equal Opportunities; Criminal Prosecution of HIV Transmission; Health and Safety at Work, Blood-borne infections; TB; CRB Checking, etc.
Health & Safety at Work (as designated & trained Health & Safety Officer).
Personal Safety (as an accredited tutor with ‘Suzy Lamplugh Trust’), especially in relation to being safely involved as a Volunteer.
Publicity, marketing, writing articles; extensive press and media work; and development of materials.
Monitoring/Evaluation/Statistics: Initially of our Service Users, as well as regarding Volunteers, Volunteering and Training.
For 20 years, I was at the forefront and beginning of the creation and development of a major HIV/AIDS voluntary organisation/charity and of HIV/AIDS responses and services in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland, campaigning for the rights of people living with HIV; challenging the ignorance, prejudice and discrimination that some of the already most marginalised people were facing; and fighting for the funding and recognition of local support services.
During this time, I created, administered, maintained and continually developed our extensive Volunteer Programme, and the recruitment, involvement and support of over 450 volunteers (with 170 active Volunteers at our height), being responsible for the creation and delivery of all volunteer training, having our quality recognised by being East Midlands Regional ‘Make A Difference’ Volunteering Award Winners in 1995, presented by the UK Home Secretary; and then being lead officer for the successful awarding in 2007 of the national ‘Investing in Volunteers’ accreditation.
I also created, developed and was a major trainer for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland of the LASS extensive, respected and well evaluated Training Programme for over 17,000 people (paid and voluntary workers), from hundreds of varied groups and organisations from voluntary, statutory and private sectors, involving small community and neighbourhood groups; schools; colleges; police; prison service; health; social care; and local authorities, particularly regarding HIV/AIDS; Hepatitis; Sexual Infections; Tuberculosis (TB), and issues regarding Care; Health; Health & Safety; Children & Families; Asylum Seekers/Refugees; and legal obligations under the ‘Disability Discrimination Act’, to develop knowledge, awareness and improve working practices.
From the many thousands of evaluations I have received through my training work, I have always been highly regarded and rated.
During 2006-2007, 454 people, covering 40 different sessions, scored myself as trainer 2097 out of 2270 (97% rating), an average score per person of 4.6 out of a possible 5.0 (‘Good/Very Good’), with ‘Presentation’ being rated at 90%, an average of 4.5 out of 5.0; and ‘Enjoyment’ rated at 86%, an average of 4.3.
In addition, over 6 years (covering 206 different sessions with 2376 people) I received an overall score as a trainer of 10908 out of 11930 (91% rating), an average score per person of 4.6 out of a possible 5.0 (‘Good/Very Good’); with ‘Presentation’ being rated at 88% (an average of 4.4); and ‘Enjoyment’ rated at 86% (an average of 4.3); and relating to Equal Opportunities issues at 87% (an average of 4.0). Overall, receiving a total score of 106314 out of a possible 119300 (89% satisfaction), an average score per participant of 4.5 out of 5.0 ("Good/Very Good").
I have thousands of complementary comments from participants regarding my work and training, the benefits it has made to them, and my “knowledgeable”, “friendly”, “relaxed” and “participatory approach”, treating people as individuals with “respect” and “courtesy”, which gives me immense satisfaction and confidence.
This has also involved, particularly through group work, training and consultancy, helping others to review, recognise needs, develop knowledge, and good practice, including regarding Volunteering, develop ways to put things into action
In February 2008, following the appointment four months earlier of a new CEO and subsequently a decision by the Board of Trustees, I was informed that due to so-called proposed 'restructuring' of the organisation, the post of 'Training & Development Manager' would no longer exist, causing me to be 'at risk of redundancy'. As no suitable alternative employment within the agency about how 20 years of significant experience could be used was proposed, I was made redundant and left LASS after 20 years involvement (18 years employment & 2 years a a Volunteer) on 22nd February 2008.
I subsequently was awarded Honorary Life Membership of LASS.
For my thoughts on LASS & Me, visit the section on this website.
Link:
Listen to an interview on the BBC Radio Leicester website at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2007/11/30/world_aids_day_feature.shtml