L.A.S.S & ME

Since 1988 until 2008, I had been committed and significantly involved in HIV/AIDS campaigning, education, training, awareness-raising and service provision, particularly with 'Leicestershire AIDS Support Services' (LASS), initially for 2 years as a Volunteer and Management Committee member and then 18 years as an employee.

For 20 years, I was at the forefront and beginning of the creation and development of a major HIV/AIDS voluntary organisation/charity (originally called 'Leicestershire AIDSLine') 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. 

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 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 was proposed, I was made redundant and left LASS after 20 years involvement (18 years employment & 2 years as a Volunteer) on 22nd February 2008. 

It’s been an amazing 20 years associated with LASS and being at the beginning, forefront and development of the response to HIV, hopefully having played a significant role in it all, especially educating, informing and I hope having an impact upon thousands of people from so many groups and organisations.

I will never forget those people, especially Gay Men, who in the very early days faced such oppression, stigma and the likelihood of death, who were so inspirational and significant in getting HIV recognised and fighting for the right to exist; be heard; have funded agencies; be treated with respect; educate others; and take control over their own lives and the right to die with dignity.

Our biggest resource has always been the ‘people’. Buildings, equipment, policies, procedures, guidelines, strategies, etc, although of course very useful, in themselves don’t provide services or educate people, etc - but committed, motivated, valued, knowledgeable, trained and supported people do.

Over the years, the paid staff, supporters, student placements, and volunteers (nearly 500 in total and around 180 volunteers at our height) have given so much. The hundreds of enquiries to become involved and then being committed enough to wait for one of the regularly held comprehensive training programmes (daytime or evening), followed by well attended weekly support groups and on-going training; the huge commitment of volunteers providing care and support (especially respite for the many people close to death); the vibrant, exciting, and motivational feel; and the many years of commitment shown.

LASS and HIV services are only here because of the hard work; huge amounts of hours put in (particularly voluntarily); the sweat, tears, sacrifices and death of many people, particularly early on and over many years. It is unlikely that many people today will realise, know about, or perhaps even care about the reality of what it was like medically, especially the amount of death that was so prevalent. However, this could happen again if complacency about transmission; the benefit of treatment; the development of drug resistance or longer-term side effects of the drugs; and lack of appropriate vigilance, becomes significant and increases.

LASS (or ‘Leicestershire AIDSLine’ as it was originally called) was ‘special’ because initially we were the only ones doing anything and were ‘different’ to other services; and particularly because of the diverse people who significantly cared and were personally affected in some way who came together to make a difference, mainly doing it ‘voluntarily’ or feeling motivated, valued and supported to work way in excess of contracted hours; were united, driven, highly motivated, clear about their purpose, and with less ‘bureaucracy’ could better use energy, time, limited resources, etc, to get on and directly support, educate, inform and campaign.

I am proud of what LASS, together with the support of many other people and organisations, has achieved in educating, informing and supporting people; helping to develop services; challenging stigma, prejudice and discrimination; achieving better treatment for people affected; and doing what we can to make sure HIV was kept on the agenda and the specific needs of people living with HIV were not forgotten or totally subsumed into broader responses.

I would like to thank the many thousands of people and groups and organisations I have had the privilege to provide training for and work with over the last 20 years, especially the past and present LASS Volunteers.

At the LASS AGM on 27th November 2008, I was awarded 'Honorary Life Membership' of LASS in recognition of the significant contribution made to the HIV and AIDS field. Whilst totally saddened by what the organisation has now become and how it is being run since leaving, primarilly influened by the arrival of a new CEO, I am happy to receive this recognition of my 20 previous years helping to start and develop LASS and the huge successes of LASS during the time I was proud to be involved with them.