Get support from Chiva or refer a young person
Please use the below form to access our services and activities yourself, or refer a young person you know, care for, or have supported in a clinical setting.
These include one-to-one support, hardship support for those with critical needs, and Chiva’s projects and activities, such as the Freedom 2 Be support camp and arts programme.
*We’re using a Google Form to collect this information. If you cannot access this platform, please email Elaine White for a downloadable version in Microsoft Word.
Support available
General Support
We offer one-to-one support to children, young adults and their families, both within clinics and in the community. This may be emotional support around particular difficulties managing HIV and related issues, social support to help young people connect with peers and build a support network, mental health and wellbeing support, as well as practical help. We can help advocate for young people and their families with wider agencies such as schools, colleges, social care and health services.
Hardship Support
We know that many children and young adults living with HIV face increased hardship. Our hardship support service provides practical help for those with critical needs.
To be eligible, you or those you are referring must be:
- A family with a child living with HIV
- A young adult who has grown up with HIV
- A pregnant or new mother living with HIV (although, support for these mothers will be focused on infant needs)
Applicants will need to be facing a crisis or emergency, with no access to support and insufficient resources to meet their needs. Or, they will be experiencing poverty or destitution.
We’ll also accept applications from students who need support moving into independent accommodation where their family circumstances fit into the above categories, or they are estranged from family support.
What kind of support is available?
Examples of areas where applicants could receive help:
- Food deliveries or vouchers
- Household essentials
- Digital equipment for education
- Emergency housing
- Travel to appointments
- Formula for infants of mothers living with HIV
Projects
Freedom 2 Be Camp
An annual five-day residential camp for young people, aged 11–17, who are living with HIV. It offers young people a unique opportunity to:
- Share experiences with other young people who also live with HIV
- Meet role models and mentors who are living with HIV
- Spend time in an environment where HIV is safe to discuss
- Learn more about HIV and living well
- Take part in creative and adventure activities which help build skills and confidence.
Find out more about camp here.
The Blueprint: Young adults’ programme
Ongoing activities, residentials, resources and other support for young adults 18-25 living with HIV, including The Blueprint. This programme will focus on achieving the best quality of life in adulthood, whilst continuing to support the impacts and challenges which HIV can bring.
Work Positive
Chiva works in partnership with the Terrance Higgins Trust (THT) to offer support to young adults looking for work or exploring job opportunities. This programme gives young adults access to webinars and mentoring. The mentors are THT volunteers who are trained to support people living with HIV who are unemployed and may need guidance.
Art is Key
Art is Key is an arts-based engagement project for those aged 17-25 who are living with HIV. The project involves working with professional artists from a community arts organisation and creating material such as films, podcasts, music etc. Issues related to growing up with HIV are explored through expressive arts and key messages and experiences expressed through the creative media developed. Art is Key usually includes a residential and online workshops.
Chiva Youth Committee
The Chiva Youth Committee (CYC) are a group of young people, aged 12–18, who are living with HIV who take on a wide range of projects and campaigns. The CYC meet online and in person and are a key part of the organisation, shaping the direction of Chiva’s work. Their role is to represent the needs and views of their peers across the UK and ensure their voices are heard in the development of new policies, in research, and in how services are delivered. More generally, they help us raise awareness and understanding of issues relating to growing up living with HIV. The CYC have networks of young people they connect with around the world and have a long-standing session presenting at the annual Chiva conference.
Access these services and activities for yourself or a young person by completing the form below.
