Question
Are there any HIV respite centres in the UK?
7 August 2014. Related: All topics, Support.
I’m HIV positive and need a break. Do you know of any respite centres in the UK?
Answer
Hi,
There are a few options and sometimes this can be very beneficial.
- Kernow Positive Support (KPS) run a respite centre at Trebullom Farm for people living with and affected by HIV. They are based in Cornwall and also run a B&B. They also offer a variety of other advice and support services.Links below have include contact details and information about the services.
Trebullom Farm website (website)Leaflet about Trebullom Farm (PDF)
This is a grade 2 listed farmhouse in rural Cornwall with eight double bedrooms. A weeks’ respite on a full board basis is £450 and includes a therapy, counselling session, trips to the coast etc if required. Clients self fund or obtain support from another charity.B&B is available at Trebullom for £45 p/p/p/n. (£35 for those in receipt of benefits).
As part of a Lottery funding (Enables Futures Project), ending in March 2015, there is a programme that enables adults affected or effected by HIV, four day/three night stay on a full board basis.
The project includes workshops on Disclosure, moving into Employment, DDA/Equality Act and legislation, and Changes in the Benefit system.It also includes a craft workshop such as baking, pottery or silver clay jewellery and gives individuals the chance to meet others, exchange experiences and gain peer support.
Funding for travel to Bodmin, Cornwall is not included but there is a free pick-up service from there to Trebullom Farm.
- The Sussex Beacon is a centre in East Sussex, just outside of Brighton that offers similar services.
- Milestone House is a centre in Scotland run with respite service that is run by a charity called Waverley Care in Edinburgh.
I don’t have personal experience of the these centres or their services but we have heard good things about them.
Local authorities can sometimes provide grants for respite care and your clinic may be able to help with arranging this.
Thanks for this information Veritee. Sad news about more lack of funding.
Kernow Positive Support (KPS) respite centre at Trebullom Farm closed a few years ago sadly.
Just for information.
I live with HIV and in Cornwall where KPS is.
Lack of funding mainly
Just a mention. The Sussex Beacon offers quite different services to the above. We have a 24hour nursing staff at hand and medical officer 9-5 during the week and on-call medical consultancy from the local hospital which has one of the leading HIV centres in the UK. You cannot self-refer to the Sussex Beacon but your local HIV/GUM clinic may be able to fund you. You can fund yourself but you will still need to be referred by your local clinic for reasons of confidentiality and safety to both yourself and our other clients. It is a ten-bedded unit that provides an outstanding level of holistic care and unfortunately is now the only such centre in the UK.