A Berkshire charity supporting people living with HIV and LGBTQ+ communities has secured more than £285,000 in National Lottery funding to expand its work tackling isolation, stigma and inequality across the county.
Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS) has been awarded £285,060 by the National Lottery Community Fund to deliver a new community-led programme over the next three years, bringing together people living with HIV and members of Berkshire's LGBTQ+ communities.
The charity said the funding will allow it to increase its reach across all six local authority areas in Berkshire while ensuring people with lived experience remain at the heart of service development and delivery.
TVPS, which provides support, advocacy and wellbeing services for people affected by HIV as well as LGBTQ+ communities, described the award as a significant investment in some of Berkshire's most marginalised residents.
The new project has been shaped by the people it is designed to support, with individuals living with HIV and LGBTQ+ community members helping to identify priorities during the development stage.
According to the charity, this collaborative approach will continue throughout the programme through client forums, consultations, feedback sessions and ongoing engagement with service users.
By putting lived experience at the centre of decision-making, TVPS hopes to strengthen community connections, reduce social isolation and ensure services reflect the real needs of those accessing support.
The initiative will also see the charity work closely with healthcare providers, local authorities, statutory services and community organisations across Berkshire to improve access to support and encourage more inclusive services.
Sarah Macadam, Chief Executive of TVPS, welcomed the funding and said it would help address the challenges still faced by many people living with HIV and LGBTQ+ people.
"We are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund and to National Lottery players for making this project possible," she said.
"It has been fantastic to see the project taking shape and people coming together, connecting and sharing their experiences.
"Too many people living with HIV and members of the LGBTQIA+ community still experience stigma, discrimination and isolation. This project gives people a space where they can feel safe, valued and empowered to be themselves, while making sure lived experience plays a central role in improving services and reducing inequalities across Berkshire."
TVPS said the funding will strengthen support networks throughout the county and help tackle barriers faced by people living with HIV and LGBTQ+ communities, particularly those at risk of isolation or exclusion.
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