Alongside You is a Christian charity providing practical and emotional support services to children and families living with HIV in East London. Trained volunteers are placed with a family in need, visiting regularly to build a supportive relationship, and facilitate activities for the children and respite for parents. Group Outings and Youth Programme in school holidays provide opportunities for children and young people to have a fun day out, try new activities and build relationships with peers in the same situation. We provide long term support, getting alongside families through the challenges that arise from living with HIV, helping to reduce isolation, provide respite and to strengthen the family unit. Due to the stigma associated with HIV, many don't feel able to tell people in their community about HIV and really value the confidentiality and support our service offers.
Recruitment and Training of Christian Volunteers, through speaking engagements and maintaining a network of church contacts. Volunteering training programme for new volunteers is run once or twice a year. Ongoing supervision, support and training is provided for volunteers, through volunteer team meetings, phone supervision, monitoring visit report forms and annual appraisals.
Coordination of family support services includes responding to new referrals, setting up new family volunteer placements, supervision of placements, annual family reviews, advocacy work and liaising with referrers and professionals to respond to family needs and concerns that arise.
Group outings programme - we aim to run 4 outings each school holiday, for children who don't have regular workers, either by choice or while they are on the waiting list. Outings cater for different age groups and we provide a varied programme of activities in the local community. Volunteers accompany children to and from home. We also organise an annual family party and occasional family events, to which parents/carers can come with the children for a shared celebration or experience.
Youth Programme - we run 4-6 events throughout the year, including a residential activity weekend for young people aged 12-18 years who are aware of the HIV diagnosis in the family.
