AIDSfree appeal: Fund set up to tackle virus helps more than 50,000 at-risk Londoners

An HIV Innovation Fund designed to tackle the spread of the virus among those at highest risk has helped at least 50,000 people in London this year.

Public Health England awarded funding and guidance to London projects that have reduced the stigma around HIV and raised the importance of HIV testing and the use of PrEP to the most at-risk groups.

One of the projects awarded a grant was Sex Talk, a radio and podcast series on National Prison Radio for people living with HIV in prison.

The HIV charity Positively UK helped ensure the programmes were accurate and credible.

The show, featuring experts and people living with HIV, was broadcast in all London prisons.

One listener wrote to the station after hearing an episode, saying: “I was crying in my cell listening to the story.

“It was the exact story of my life...

“I thank that person for talking out, as I have lived a life in fear, feeling worthless and dirty — scared to even hold a child in my arms.

“My fear was that I would put others through what I go through.”

Public Health England awarded £600,000 to HIV projects in England last year, and 32 per cent of this money went to London projects.