Positive Help says it urgently needs more volunteers as demand for its services has jumped 25% for the second year running

An HIV and Hepatitis C charity in Edinburgh has been left struggling to cope due to a surge in demand for help.

Positive Help says it urgently needs extra volunteers after demand for its services rose by almost a quarter for the second year in a row.

Ray de Souza, chair of the board at Positive Help, an independent charity formed 25 years ago said the charity now supports more than 550 people throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians, including 35 children.

“Demand for our services has risen almost 25% in the last year in the face of pressure on statutory sector services, an increasing number of people living longer with HIV illness, and changes to the welfare benefits system,” he said.

“We work with some of the most seriously ill people living with HIV as well as with families affected by the disease.”

Demand for our services has risen almost 25% in the last year in the face of pressure on statutory sector services, an increasing number of people living longer with HIV illness, and changes to the welfare benefits system

Services provided by the charity include befriending, home support, a homework club for school children and a transportation service to take people to medical and social services appointments.

A team of 75 volunteers currently work for the charity but it can now only meet seven out of 10 requests for transport – leaving it having to prioritise whose appointments are most important.

Matthew Gilbert-Straw, manager of the charity, said when the service was founded it helped ease life for people who were rapidly dying of AIDS.

Today, with effective treatments for HIV, people are living longer healthier lives but are being hit sooner and harder by illnesses of aging such as dementia and arthritis.

At the same time, new people are being infected every year and often need help to maintain treatment.

He pleaded: “Our services absolutely would not be able to function without the help of our fantastic volunteer team and we hope that many people will be inspired to come and help us support clients living with HIV and Hepatitis C to live with dignity and in hope of a better future.

“Please do get in touch. We welcome new volunteers.”

Rev Dr Angus Morrison, moderator of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly, whose World Mission supports Positive Help through its dedicated HIV Programme Fund and earlier this month approved a grant of £12,000 to support the delivery of transportation service for the next 3 years, recently visited the charity.

While there he met some of the volunteers and staff.

“It’s been a tremendous pleasure and privilege to be visiting Positive Help and to hear about the marvellous work that they are doing in making a real difference in the lives of so many people in our community,” he said.

“I’ve been greatly inspired by what I have heard and would want to encourage the whole church indeed to get behind this work and to support it in every way we can.”

To find out more about volunteering at Positive Help visit the charity’s website.