National AIDS Trust
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Mission Statement
NAT is committed to transforming society's response to HIV. We champion the rights of people living with HIV and campaign for change - shaping attitudes, challenging injustice, and changing lives. We believe that everyone deserves health and equality and we won't let HIV stand in the way. Our goals are effective HIV prevention; Early diagnosis of HIV; Universal access to HIV treatment, care and support; Eradication of HIV-related stigma and discrimination; Increased public awareness and understanding of HIV and AIDS. We believe that we make the most lasting and positive impact on the greatest number of lives by changing attitudes, behaviour, decisions and policies. With over 30 years experience of fighting for health and equality in HIV, we have the expertise and the practical resources to make a real difference.
About This Cause
Founded in 1987, NAT has been at the forefront of improving the lives of people living with HIV and halting the spread of HIV. 40% of people living with HIV were diagnosed late risking serious ill health, increased risks of onward transmission and a tenfold increase risk of death within one year as compared to those diagnosed promptly. There are still too many diagnosis - rates have doubled among young gay men aged 16-24 in the last decade. HIV and safer sex is still not routinely taught in schools meaning that many young people are unsure of the facts about HIV. Surveys of the general public show that only 65% can accurately pick the correct routes of HIV transmission out of a list and myths such as HIV being spread by kissing are taking hold again. Not only does this fuel the rise in transmissions but it fuels stigma and discrimination. 1 in 5 people living with HIV experience verbal harassment and bullying and 18% have experienced suicidal thoughts in the last 12 months. They are more likely to live in poverty, experience domestic abuse, and be criminalised. NAT works to help people living with HIV to live well. We challenge this stigma and discrimination. We have ensured that pre-employment health questionnaires are illegal so that employers can no longer decide whether to offer someone employment based on their HIV status. We have also worked with the government to change welfare assessments so that people living with HIV are assessed by semi-structured interviews which are far better at accurately assessing the needs of people with any fluctuating health condition. With current medications, there is now a cohort of people living with HIV who have reached older age. In many cases they are in poverty. At the time of their diagnoses they were encouraged to cash in their pensions and savings because they weren't expected to live. They have been barred from access to financial products and services, or offered unaffordably high premiums, which could have provided financial stability because of outdated assumptions. They are also discriminated against in care homes stopping them from living their final years in dignity. NAT provides training materials for care homes and providers so that they understand HIV better and know how to care for an older person living with HIV. It breaks down the myths that people living with HIV need their own cutlery, or need to shower last - or even in some cases means that they are allowed visitors. We are also challenging the financial services industry to drive a change to their access requirements for people living with HIV. We are making sure that it is based on actuarial fact. NAT also works to improve prevention activities and ensure equal, easy access to treatment and support. The budgets have been massively shrinking so services are being cut. We are providing evidence of their importance and cost effectiveness. Most recently we have overturned the decision that PrEP, a medication which can prevent HIV acquisition for HIV negative people and a real game changer in the fight against HIV, should not be allowed. This led to the decision to run a three year trial for up to 10,000 most at risk individuals. Our work is varied and designed to help everyone at risk of HIV. We help those most at risk but also with 25% of new diagnoses outside of these most at risk groups we ensure that prevention, treatment and support is inclusive. We are only a small charity and are determined to remain independent. We have 'project' work but also reactive work. For example, we have recently helped an individual who was being barred access to employment through the use of illegal pre-employment health questionnaires. As such, we need to have a mix of project and core funding to operate. Every donation counts in such a small charity and the work it leads to can clearly be traced.