+me: 2010

Monday 1 February 2010

Mayor unveils the sculpture

BARNSLEY
CHRONICLE
December 4, 2009
Yorkshire’s leading weekly newspaper
Art work: The Mayor Coun John Parkinson, Liz Grundy and Karl Cooper, Chairman of +ME at sculpture unveiling.

Support group handed £5k

By Ian Thompson:
The SUPPORT group for people living with and affected by HIV has had a boost. +ME, which is based at The Core on County Way, Barnsley, has been awarded £5,000 from pharmaceuticals company Gilead. The money will be spent on supporting local services, trips, newsletters and art classes. Meanwhile, Mayor Coun John Parkinson unveiled a sculpture on Tuesday 1st December World Aids Day. The work of art by Liz Grundy depicts a hand holding a ribbon. It was unveiled at an empty shop in the Metropolitan Centre which has been turned into a makeshift art gallery.
Please call us on 01226 320 148 or check out our new website by clicking onto http://www.plusme.org/ contact us on info@plusme.org

Our Mission - To support people living with or affected by HIV in Barnsley

The Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley supports a population of 222,100 people widely dispersed in small villages most of which are ex-mining communities.The number of people living with HIV within the borough is still relatively small, but there has been a rapid increase in numbers over the last two years.It is estimated for every person living with HIV there are another 40 people around them who are affected, on this basis we felt now was the time for +ME to take the lead in our area .We have support centres in place in all our surrounding cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield , +ME wants to bridge the gap in services , to work cohesively with them and our local authorities
Barnsley Metroploitan Council
Barnsley Primary Care Trust
Barnsley General Hospital GUM clinic
Belmont induction Centre

The majority of our work is done on a outreach basis with one to one visits being done in the home or a safe meeting place.
We are looking at present for new office space central to Barnsley town centre and all its major bus and train links for ease of access .

We meet informally once a month for a cuppa and everyone is welcome , friends , family , even next doors dog if you want! talking and meeting with people in your shoes is a great way to help you socialise and meet new friends.

We promised summer was going to be busy and it was certainly that!,
we promised you walks in the park , picnics, then after all that exercise we calmed and soothed your aching limbs with the offer of river cruising serenity and we delivered! Here at +me we don’t just sit and wait for something to happen we make it happen!
August saw our first picnic at Cannon Hall, Dogs and all! 19 people turned out for our very own party in the park!
September may have seen summer close its doors on 2008 but we set sail on the Ethel Barge our decks were full with 12 shipmates, Everyone had a great day and were only too happy to have a Sunday lunch served to us on the rivers edge at a very welcoming public house!Facing the Freezing conditions and battling the hazardous shopping conditions + me its volunteers and bus load of 20 service users arrived at Lincoln Christmas markets Sunday 7/12/2008 Shopping! Shopping! Shopping everyone had a great but tiring day!!.

+ME Positive about Change -HIV/AIDS Support Barnsley, South Yorkshire

We are a local support group in Barnsley , South Yorkshire . Our service users are those who live with or are affected by HIV/AIDS.
We offer a unique confidential helpline/ telephone service , where caller anonymity and complete confidetiality are assured we are able to offer advice and support to those people who need us, whether newly diagnosed or just struggling with life after diagnoses, or a member of your friends or family is affected - we can help you but the pieces back together.
Our Telephone Number is : 01226 320148
Helpline : 07543 442 547

We dont have the funding for a 24hour helpline ! But......
Leave a message , with a date, name and time for us to call you back, help is here and we will get back to you.

or you can email us at :
info@plusme.org

we can then email you back with any information you need, if you require to meet with our support workers we can do this by appointment , we will meet you and discuss your needs and look at ways we can help you.

+me offer a variety of opportunities for local people to become accredited volunteers. There are many opportunities to work with people including befriending and mentoring, assisting with access into education, work, benefits and training as well as offering practical help and support. In return Volunteers will receive
Experience of working with disadvantaged people
Regular one to one support
The opportunity to meet other people with similar interests
Assistance with your own personal development
Help in identifying training and Job opportunities
Being treated as a valued member of the team
Travel expenses reimbursed
+me-
make t+me to volunteer today

Our mission - to support people living with or affected by hiv in barnsley

Monday 1 February 2010

Mayor unveils the sculpture