SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS

          NOTE: Please also check counselling & social work services at your clinic

HIV AND SEXUAL HEALTH INFORMATION AND SUPPORT

The Africa Advocacy Foundation (020 7708 3649) and the National African AIDS Helpline (0800 0967 500) provide HIV related support for people of African ethnicity living in the UK and have advisors who speak a variety of languages.

Healthy Gay Living provides support, counselling and advice to gay and bisexual men. Services include Sexual Health advice and Married Men’s Group. 0121 440 6161.

London Gay Men's Group. Support group for and run by gay, HIV positive men living in or around London. Contact the group via their website at http://www.gmg.org.uk/contact.php.

Positively Women provides peer support for women living with HIV by women living with HIV; crèche facilities and therapeutic services for children affected by HIV. 020 7713 0222

The London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard provides free, confidential support & information for the LGBT community. 0300 330 0630 (Daily 10 a.m.–11 p.m.)

National Sexual Health Information Line: 0800 567123.Free, confidential telephone service with advice about HIV, AIDS, sexual health, sexually transmitted infections, local services, clinics and support services.

National AIDS Helpline.A free 24-hour helpline offering advice, information and referrals. 0800 567 123.

Positive East provides practical and emotional support for people living with and affected by HIV in east London. 020 7791 2855

Positively UK provides specialist and peer support, advocacy and information to people living with HIV. Tel: 020 7713 0444. Peer Support Helpline: 020 7713 0222, weekdays 10am to 5pm, Thursdays until 8pm.

Sexual Health Direct: 0845 122 8690.9am - 6pm Monday to Friday (closed bank holidays and 3pm-4.30pm on Thursdays). Provides confidential information and advice on contraception, STIs, pregnancy choices and planning a pregnancy.

Terrence Higgins Trust Direct Helpline provides information and support on HIV and sexual health: 0808 802 1221, 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. weekdays, 12:00 - 6pm weekends.

UK Coalition of People Living With HIV and AIDS.Service include advocacy. Also publishes Positive Nation magazine. 020 7564 2180. Website: www.ukcoalition.org

OTHER COUNSELLING, INFORMATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Advice Now: Information on the law and your rights, including sickness and disability benefits, from a wide range of advice and information services. www.advicenow.org.uk

Age UK: The new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged. 0800 169 6565.

Barnardo’s offers services for parents who are HIV positive or living with other life threatening illnesses. Telephone: 020 8550 8822

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) has a list of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists. 01455 883300.

Cruse Bereavement Care offers free information and advice to anyone affected by a death. 0870 167 1677

East London Out Project (ELOP) offers emotional and support services, including counselling, to LGBT communities.  020 8509 3898 

PACE provides low cost counselling to lesbian and gay men whose income does not exceed £16,000 per annum (This limit does not apply to the specialist HIV prevention counselling), runs groups and workshops and an HIV prevention programme for gay men and other men who have sex with men. 020 7700 1323.

Refugee Council: Provides help to asylum seekers and refugees 020 7346 6700.

Relateline: Relate specialises in relationship counselling and support  and offers counselling services for individuals, couples and families. 9.30am – 4:00 pm Mon-Fri. 0845 130 4010

The Samaritans - People can call the Samaritans if they feel they are in an emotional crisis and have nowhere else to turn. Samaritans have a philosophy of listening in total confidence and without judgement. The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 08457 90 90 90. Textphones (for the deaf and hard of hearing): 08457 90 91 92. Or email jo@samaritans.org

Saneline: out-of-hours helpline offering specialist emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness. Open every day, 6pm to 11pm. 0845 767 8000

The UK Council for Psychotherapy. The umbrella organization for psychotherapy in the UK with a register of professionally qualified psychotherapists. 020 7014 9955 info@ukcp.org.uk