Things are looking up for threatened LGBTQ+ charity Sahir House after its future plans were thrown into turmoil due to budget cuts.
Sahir House, Liverpool's oldest LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing charity, lost two-thirds (£200,000) of its annual funding from Liverpool City Council last month after its bid to continue providing HIV support in the area was bested by organisations from Manchester.
But it has been given a lifeline in the form of a £150,000 grant for two new projects to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV in the city.
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The first project, carried out with the help of Liverpool PaSH (Passionate about Sexual Health), will give additional support to more vulnerable HIV+ people, including elderly people and long-term survivors, who may need more help than what is usually provided.
The second project will see the charity working with the council's public health team to gather information about the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people in order to work out a new strategy for reducing health inequality.
Sahir House chief executive Ant Hopkinson said: “Sahir House has been at the forefront of Merseyside’s response to HIV for decades and, together with the communities we serve, our staff have advocated for and helped to deliver care and support for those living with HIV since 1987. This first fantastic project will see our charity empowered to continue to lead a person-centred response to HIV across Liverpool.
“Funding for the second project is a timely acknowledgement of the role that Sahir House continues to play as Liverpool’s largest continuously running LGBTQ+ charity, in acting as a trusted advocate and authentic voice for those we serve.
“These projects mark the beginning of an exciting and much needed collaboration with LCC to develop a wide-reaching LGBTQ+ action plan for Liverpool – focussing on health, wellbeing, education, employment, culture and cohesion."
The charity will be awarded £50,000 per annum for a period of three years by Liverpool City Council, allowing the projects to continue until the end of September 2025.
Cllr Frazer Lake, cabinet member for health and social care, said: “I’m delighted that Liverpool City Council has been able to invest in these projects and support communities and individuals who wrongly face judgement, stigma and discrimination.
“Together we hope to acknowledge, and begin to address the considerable barriers that marginalised and vulnerable people face – as only by understanding and removing them can this lead to happier, healthier, and fulfilling lives for all.”
Professor Matthew Ashton, director of public health for Liverpool, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to continue our longstanding partnership with Sahir House on these two important new projects.
“The intensive support programme for people living with HIV will focus on vital support issues such as mental health, management of comorbidities other health conditions alongside HIV, and living well in later life, whilst the LGBTQ+ project will support the system to engage and empower people who are presenting with increasingly complex and multi-layered issues.
“There have been improvements to the equity in accessing healthcare, and this is a further step in the right direction.”
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