Since 1987, aidsmap has been committed to providing accessible and accurate information about HIV prevention and treatment to help people protect themselves and others, advocate for better services, challenge stigma and discrimination, and live longer, healthier lives.
But we cannot do this alone. We don't receive any government funding, and we rely on our community to continue our vital work, changing lives by sharing information about HIV & AIDS.
That's why, as 2023 draws to a close, we want to thank all our allies, everyone who donated, spread the word or joined us as a regular donor, and all the organisations who partnered with us and supported our projects over the year.
Your support helped us provide accurate and independent news and information about HIV to millions of people living with or concerned about HIV across the world.
“[aidsmap] is a fantastic resource. The information is well presented, clear and easy to read. I also enjoy the regular bulletins. I feel they keep me up to date with my condition and allow me to have meaningful conversations with my consultant. Thank you for all your work”. Feedback from Your Voice Matters survey.
Your support helped us deliver community workshops with allied organisations across the UK, bringing people with HIV together in a supportive and confidential environment to address stigma, learn about HIV treatment and how to access health services and support, and connect with others who understand what they are going through.
"[We had] a young woman who is experiencing lots of problems in getting the right support for her chronic pain. She felt dismissed by healthcare professionals and at a loss for where to turn. When she heard Susan speak of her experiences with structural inequalities in healthcare settings, it gave her the confidence to ask for her advice and support...I watched a previously despairing person gain empowerment and a sense of agency over her own health that I had not seen before.” Anna Brewster, Director of Services and Development at The Food Chain.
Your support enabled us to bring news about the latest scientific developments in the treatment and prevention of HIV to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. We reported from conferences throughout the year, including IAS, CROI, and EACS, producing news reports and video interviews with scientists and researchers and delivering email bulletins translated into seven languages for our global audience of subscribers.
In 2023, we launched Health & Power with the support of the National Lottery Community Fund, our monthly programme sharing information on the most pressing issues facing people of colour and their lived experience of health inequalities. Hosts Susan Cole and Dr Vanessa Apea, with guests – which included Professor Bola Owolabi, Director of Health Inequalities at NHS England, and Professor Kevin Fenton, Statutory Health Advisor to the Mayor of London – examined news stories and new research about health inequalities, shared guidance and personal stories on how health inequalities can manifest, along with strategies to deal with prejudice and bias within the healthcare system. In 2024, we plan to grow the Health & Power programme to include a podcast series – watch this space for more information!
Your support helped us to add fresh perspectives and insight to our reporting throughout the year through our Emerging Voices programme. Emerging Voices supports new writers from all around the world, often representing communities disproportionately affected by HIV, in developing their writing and reporting skills in a professional and supportive environment under the guidance of our team of editors. We are delighted to welcome five new writers to the programme in 2024, each of whom will help broaden our coverage over the coming year and ensure that our reporting reflects a diverse range of lived experiences.
"From the time I was first diagnosed with HIV, aidsmap has been my go-to source of reliable and trusted source of information. I receive regular e-newsletters and find the articles on new research really useful in keeping up to date with new developments." Feedback from Your Voice Matters survey.
Your support also helped us continue aidsmap's public-facing work to raise awareness about HIV stigma, address inequalities and engage with national and international media, which in 2023 included coverage in Pink News, The Guardian and The Independent.
Susan Cole spoke at the AIDS Impact Conference about HIV and menopause and talked about health inequalities and our work at the Kings College London book launch of Divided: Racism, Medicine and Why We Need to Decolonise Healthcare by Dr Annabel Sowemimo. Susan also authored an op-ed piece in The Body, 'Reclaiming our power as Black women'.
Matthew Hodson was a guest lecturer on HIV and Gender at University College London and presented about stigma and trans communities at CliniQ's annual Trans Sexual Health Conference, destigmatising scientific literature at the European AIDS Conference and a personal history of HIV at EurOut. Interviews with Matthew about his HIV activism and addressing stigma were featured in the Gay Times and Chamber.
On World AIDS Day, we were also delighted to launch HIV Confident in partnership with the National AIDS Trust and Positively UK and with support from Fast-Track Cities London. HIV Confident is a new project to tackle HIV discrimination in the workplace. London Mayor Sadiq Khan signed City Hall up as a founding member, committing to ensure that people living with HIV can access their services and work for them without fear of discrimination.
These are just a few highlights of the year. Thank you so much for helping to make our important work possible. Together, we can achieve our vision of a world where HIV is no longer a threat to health and happiness.
Join aidsmap as a regular supporter today. From just £3 a month, you can make a life-changing difference to our work.
Lend your voice. Whether you're living with HIV, are a healthcare professional, or have a family member or friend living with HIV, we would love to hear how aidsmap has supported you. Your experience will help us to demonstrate the impact and importance of access to reliable HIV information, and to grow our supporters.