A Liverpool LGBTQ+ charity which has dedicated more than three decades to HIV support, prevention and awareness has vowed to stand strong in the face of mounting financial challenges.
Hope may be on the horizon for Sahir House, Liverpool's oldest LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing charity, after it was announced that it was to lose two-thirds (£200,000) of its annual budget to outside organisations from the Manchester area at the start of September.
CEO Anthony Hopkinson says the charity may soon benefit from funding from Liverpool City Council to replace some of the cash lost.
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He said: "Conversations with the council are ongoing, and it's looking likely that we're going to get a little bit of funding from them - but nowhere near what we have lost. We hope by September we will see some funding come in, which will be much needed.
"We've also recently met with Steve Rotheram, the Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, about the LGBTQ+ community across Merseyside and the fact that more needs to be done to support them.
"The work we do is more important than ever. Recent statistics show Merseyside has the highest prevalence of reported hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people in the community. It's really shocking - and that's only the tip of the ice berg. There are always more crimes happening than what is reported.
"So the issue is clear here. We need to stand up and say 'enough is enough'."
A spokesman for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said: "Mayor Rotheram regularly meets with organisations and charities across the city region that are helping to provide vital support services to the community. Sahir House was one of the first charities the Mayor visited following his election in 2017 and he was pleased to return earlier this month to meet its new CEO.
"Mayor Rotheram has been a longstanding and proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community throughout his career, having provided funding to LCR Pride every year since being elected. As Mayor, one of his main priorities is to build a fairer, more equal Liverpool City Region and he remains committed to being a vocal advocate for the region's LGBTQ+ community."
For years, Sahir House has provided HIV support services to the people of Merseyside, however, it lost out on its contract during a competitive tender process. This has had a knock-on effect on other services the charity provides.
Anthony said: "We were founded in 1985 very much supporting those with HIV, and that's where out funding has always come from. Our services have evolved over the years so we now support the whole LGBTQ+ community, and we have used the money we get for all of that - but our funding remains based in HIV services."
A council spokesman said “Following an open and transparent procurement process in line with council processes and financial regulations, the contract was awarded to the highest scoring bidder, which on this occasion wasn't Sahir House.
"We are however partnering with Sahir House on a new research project funded by the Pandemic Institute, which will look at how mixed messaging around the monkeypox outbreak may have added to stigma. We will continue to work closely with Sahir House through this transition period and will explore any future opportunities for collaboration.”
Sahir House will continue to provide its services with local authorities in local authorities in Wirral, Knowsley, Sefton and St Helens.
A fund-raising appeal, Stand for Sahir, set up by the charity and its supporters, has so far brought in several thousand pounds. A late-night comedy show, hosted by eight Liverpool drag queens at the Superstar Boudoir on September 28, will also raise money for the House.
Anthony said: "Losing funding has had a tremendous impact on our staff, volunteers and service users, that I can't deny. But the support service will still be delivered. Changes will have to be made to ensure that we continue to have enough money to carry on doing what we have always done here in Liverpool, and to ensure the people with HIV don't go without support.
"We're here to stay. We have been in the community for 37 years. What we do may change slightly, but I'm optimistic that our community in Liverpool will continue to support us."
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