Category Archives: Support

Drop In at STaSS starts Wednesday 3rd April

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imagesSTaSS would like to invite you to join us for tea and coffee every Wednesday from 10am. The drop-in will take place at our offices. There will be tea and coffee with squash and biscuits for the children. You can meet new people, find out more about our range of free services as well as have one-to-one time with our support workers. There will be group discussions and from time-to-time guest speakers too. Any questions please phone the office on 01908 282185 where one of our team will be happy to help. We look forward to meeting you. Kettle’s on ………

Quick Testing – Know your Status and get Help.

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Quick test homeWhen HIV is concerned, it is very important to know your status, not only to prevent further transmission of the virus but also the earlier you get help, the more effective it is. Today’s specialist medical treatment can do a lot to slow down the progress of the virus and minimise its effects on your immune system. If you do test positive, we can get help for you quickly and give you support in whatever area required. If we can’t help, we can let you know where you can get help.

STaSS has set up a quick testing centre at: Broughton Medical Centre. Glyn Valley   Place,  Broughton,  Milton Keynes ,MK10 7EF,   01908  874 444     This will be on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturday of each month.  Thus for 2013; February: 16, March: 2, 16, 30,  April: 6, 20, May: 4, 18, June: 1, 15, 29, July: 6, 20, August: 3, 17, 31, September: 7, 21, October: 5, 19, November: 2, 16, 30, December: 7, 21

Thank You to Jo

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 A Big Thank–You to Jo Latimer for all the work she did as part of her work experience as a Senior Support Worker at STaSS as part of her degree in Social Work.

Jo put in tremendous effort in all she did and all at STaSS are grateful. Jo came alongside service users providing encouragement, friendship without judgement or disapproval, a listening ear and advice in areas such as housing, benefits and immigration among other things. She assisted service users in completing any relevant application forms and if needed accompanied them to any appointments at the Council Housing Department, Job Centre, Benefits office and to hospital appointments. She made sure that service users understood what was happening, talked through any concerns and ensured they were treated quickly and fairly.

A word from Jo……    Continue reading →

Job Vacancies at STaSS

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STaSS is a charity that provides private and confidential support for people infected and closely affected by HIV/AIDS. Our aim is to make a real difference in peoples lives through education so as to reduce the stigma and the spread of the virus.

Exciting opportunities have arisen for a Part–Time Volunteer Coordinator role (16 hours pw, 4 hours per day for 4 days) and a Senior Support Worker Role (15 hours pw, Mondays and Wednesdays), funded by Milton Keynes Council. Continue reading →

Friendships on the beach

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A great time was had by everyone who went on the STaSS summer trip to Great Yarmouth on Saturday. The weather was good so some people spent all day on the beach while others went shopping in the town. The children had a fantastic time, making sandcastles, playing in the sea and eating fish and chips! The adults were able to relax and socialise and for some, it was an opportunity to get to know one another better and make friends.It was a long day, and by the end of it, most people were feeling tired but happy and thinking about where they’d like to go next year.

STaSS would like to say a very grateful thank you to the Lions Club of Milton Keynes, Stony Stratford, the Lions Club of Newport Pagnell and Olney and the Lions Club of Bletchley for their donations towards the cost of the trip.

Complementary Therapy and Massage

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Please book for a complementary therapy session. Check the calendar for dates and times. Book early to avoid disapointment as appointments are quickly filled. Call the office to book your session.

Tui na is a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese taoist and martial art principles to bring the body to balance. The principles being balanced are the eight principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll/press and rub the areas between each of the joints (known as the eight gates) to open the body’s defensive (wei) chi and get the energy moving in both the meridians and the muscles. The practitioner can then use range of motion, traction, massage, with the stimulation of acupressure points; this aims to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions. Tui na is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

STaSS delighted by confidence vote from Parish Councils

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 While most charities  are struggling to make ends meet, and getting grants can be a real challenge, more and more parish councils are giving STaSS the green light to work with their parishioners. Campbell Park Parish Council is the latest parish council to fund STaSS to provide support to people living with HIV in their parish, with a grant of £860.

Carole Taylor, STaSS’s Service Co-ordinator said “Completing a grant application is always a time-consuming process and there’s no guarantee of a positive result, but the outcome of this and other successful applications means we can hire a more suitable room to hold our monthly Positive Living Club, and make sure everyone who attends gets a decent meal. Our service users are hugely grateful to Campbell Park and other parish councils that have funded us to date”.

If you’re able to make a donation to STASS, no matter if it’s a little or a lot, it can make a big difference. Just click on the link opposite to Make a Donation. Thank you.

 

Community Champions sought to encourage HIV testing – pay negotiable

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Closing date: Friday 20 July

STaSS is seeking a number of individuals who are well connected to, or directly involved with, Black African community and faith organisations in Milton Keynes. The Community Champions will be influential within one or more community groups, and will work with our staff to increase HIV testing amongst Black African men and women in Milton Keynes as part of our new Empowerment Programme. The programme will work in line with national guidelines that have been shown to be effective in increasing testing. Coaching and support will be provided and hours will be offered on a sessional basis, usually requiring evening and weekend work. Rates are likely to be in the region of £20 to £40 per hour, depending on experience.

For further information and an expression of interest form, click on this link: HIV Empowerment Programme for Black African men and women.

STaSS develops Empowerment Programme

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empowermentSTaSS, in partnership with Milton Keynes Council, is about to launch The Empowerment Programme, which will help people to take the important step of knowing their HIV status. Knowing your status is better than not knowing, because it can help you to stay healthy and protect other people from infection.

We are working with sexual health services and community and faith organisations to provide free empowerment events, access to HIV testing and free condoms and health information. Further information about the programme will be published on our website soon.

A visit to an organic farm

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Goats at the farm

On the 4th of June 2011, STaSS service users and volunteers visited Vana Trust organic farm. The children had a wonderful time petting the animals, having their faces painting and eating ice creams and cup cakes. For the adults, it was a  time to get together for a cuppa and a chat!