The Empowerment Programme will help you to take the important step to knowing your 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 work with sexual health services and community and faith organisations to provide free empowerment events, access to HIV testing and free condoms and sexual health information.
5 good reasons to have an HIV test
- If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, having a test and receiving a negative result will put your mind at ease.
- If you do have HIV, at some time you will need to take drugs to stay healthy. The longer you go without having treatment, the less likely the drugs will work.
- If you know about your HIV status, you can take steps to protect other people from infection.
- If you are tested positive, you can receive support and learn about how to stay healthy.
- If you are tested positive, and want to start a family, you can learn about ways to prevent your child from becoming infected by mother-to-child transmission.
What does an HIV test involve?
The standard antibody testing:-
The usual way of testing for HIV infection is by testing for the presence of antibodies to the HIV virus in a blood sample. Antibodies are specific proteins that the immune system produces in response to infections. Although 90% of individuals will have detectable antibodies as early as 6 weeks after HIV infection, in 10% of cases antibodies to the HIV virus may not become detectable in a blood sample for up to 12 weeks.
HIV quick testing:-
HIV quick test results are carried out by STaSS and are usually ready within an hour.
What happens at an Empowerment event?
At Empowerment events, we give a presentation, have a discussion, offer testing and support. Read more about what happens at an Empowerment event.
Attend an Empowerment event
Call our office for the latest empowerment events and details of how to book/attend, or view our Calendar for upcoming events.
Make an appointment for an HIV Quick Test
Call our office for the dates of HIV Quick Testing at the STaSS office, or check the Calendar.
We can also come to your home to do the test. To book an appointment, telephone STaSS on 01908 282185.
Unsure? Want to talk to someone about it?
If you are not sure, you can telephone, text or email us for advice.
Telephone: 01908 282185, Telephone or Text: 07950 397 475, Email: tina@stass.org.uk
Or talk to one of our Community Champions.
Pick up free Condoms
You can pick up free condoms at the STaSS office, or at any of our condom distribution outlets.
Help us distribute our posters and leaflets
We have developed a poster and a leaflet to tell people about the importance of testing.
Can you display a poster or help to distribute some leaflets? Get in touch with STaSS.