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History
GHT Homepage Feel free to browse through the potted histories of life at George House Trust. 1985 - 2002 and still going from strength to strength, with your help, support and belief in what we do and stand for. [ 85 - 93 ] [ 94 - 99 ] [ 00 - 04 ] [ 05 - Present ] 1985 Six gay men get together in Manchester and set up a voluntary helpline, in rented premises. Manchester Council awards Manchester AIDSline a small grant to operate its helpline. The national organisation Terrence Higgins Trust decides not to establish a north west 'branch' of its own in Manchester. Manchester Council uses the Government's NHS legislation to detain a patient with HIV at Monsall Hospital. 1986 Manchester Council establishes an 'AIDS Working Party' open to voluntary sector involvement, and invites Manchester AIDSline to become a member. Body Positive North West is formed, from a group originally meeting within Manchester AIDSline. 1987 Manchester AIDSline holds its first Annual General Meeting and becomes formally constituted. The North Western Regional Health Authority agrees to support Manchester AIDSline, with 3 paid worker posts, on a three year contract basis. Manchester Council uses part of its Government AIDS Support Grant to support Manchester AIDSline with 2 paid worker posts. 1988 Manchester AIDSline starts discussions with other voluntary and health-related organisations in order to seek a permanent building for its base. Another temporary move of rented offices takes place for the helpline. 1989 Manchester AIDSline decides to purchase a site and build its own building. The organisation also decides to appoint a Manager, with management responsibilities for staff, finance, property, rather than fill the 'Co-ordinator' vacancy. AIDSline gains Health Authority agreement to funding an HIV worker in every Community Drugs Team. AIDSline members take on appointment and distance-management of the Central Manchester CDT post. 1990 George House is built, named, staffed and managed. Manchester AIDSline agrees to manage the workers and finances of Body Positive North West. 'HIV and the Under 5s' is produced by AIDSline women volunteers. It is disseminated nationally and internationally. Community care services for people with HIV begin to be provided, in and through George House. AIDSline becomes part of the NWRHA's Palliative Care Forum, making links with generic hospices and helping to form the RHA's Palliative Care Framework (eventually launched in 1992). 1991 George House is officially launched. The design and slogan are agreed: "There is still life with HIV". The first in a series of 'Joint Planning, Community Care and HIV Disease' is published. A women only day is established in George House, within which HIV positive women meet and start to receive services. Manchester AIDSline's paid and unpaid workers develop and gain funding for Manchester Action on Street Health project, which is then set up on its own. Body Positive North West holds its first Annual General Meeting and elects its first Trustees. 1992 All paid and unpaid workers move out of George House, into nearby office space, so that George House will be used for Services only . Manchester AIDSline and Body Positive North West debate the options of joint working, total merger, and total independence. Both Annual General Meetings agree to separate development. Manchester AIDSline becomes George House Trust; and Body Positive North West moves into its own premises. Body Positive North West develops Monday-Friday daytime general drop-in and lunch provision; George House Trust further develops its services on a specific basis, e.g. for HIV positive women, drug users, black people, as well as general drop-in, befriending, Welfare Fund and information. George House Trust carries out the survey of HIV planning in the north west, which results in the publication 'Making HIV Community Care a Reality'. 1993 George House Trust petitions and lobbies Virginia Bottomley on her visit to the Regional Health Authority. 15,000 postcards are sent to Mrs Bottomley to support HIV funding. George House Trust brings together all HIV voluntary organisations across the north, to consider joint action against the Government's down-grading of HIV and the threatened end of specific funding for HIV services. Manchester Council removes the voluntary sector from its 'Aids Working Party', commissions an extensive Review of HIV voluntary services, and puts all voluntary sector grant-aided workers on 3 months' funding. George House Trust decides to prioritise gay men's issues and services relating to HIV, in the context of generalisation having failed. The post is devised - and appointed - of Gay Men's Services Manager. homepage / page top / print page |
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