Groups
Being a community-focused organisation, Positive East believes in local support groups within a local and friendly setting. We provide a wide range of groups, providing general information and support as well as specialised interest groups reflecting specific issues and concerns of the various communities we aim to help and support.
Click here to download information about who may access our services and summary details about our groups, including contact links. Most of our groups meet once a month (subject to change), with different topics and issues each session. Note: our groups are compliant under section 35 of the Race Relations Act 1976.
If you are interested in attending one of our Groups, telephone 020 7791 2855, or email the Group (each group has a dedicated email contact). Also visit our 1-2-1 support, Counselling and Wellbeing courses webpages for further support programmes.
African Women's Group - women supporting women
Positive East group for African women living with HIV+, who either live or access HIV services within our catchment area of east London (Barking & Dagenham, City & Hackney, Havering, Redbridge, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest).
Meeting once every two months on the last Wednesday of the month, the group will aim to provide a mix of mutual support, education and social activities to help to move people from crisis to independence.
The group usually meets on the last Wednesday of the month (see schedule in information sheet below), from 6.00pm sharp to 9.00pm. Crèche places are available but need to be pre-booked through Positive East reception or the group facilitator. Snacks will be provided at the meeting.
Location: St John's Church, Broadway, Stratford E15 1NG
Dates: for 2012-13:
- Wednesday 25th January 2012
- Wednesday 28th March
- Wednesday 25th April
- Wednesday 27th June
- Wednesday 29th August
- Wednesday 31st October
- Wednesday 30th January 2013
- Wednesday 27th February
For information regarding group session dates, plus further details on the topics, telephone Jane Tungana on 020 7791 2855 or email jane.tungana@positiveeast.org.uk.
Barking, Dagenham & Havering African Caribbean Mixed Group
Open to both African/Caribbean men and women living with HIV in the Barking, Dagenham and Havering areas, the group focuses on living healthily with HIV, supporting each in overcoming challenges a life with HIV can throw on people practically and/or emotionally.
This helps to break isolation. It also provides a confidential, non judgmental and safe environment where people living with HIV meet without fear to discuss any issue of their choice.
The Group meets on 2nd Monday of the every other month subject to events. With sessions from: 5.30pm sharp to 9.00pm. While this service is free, members have the responsibility to confirm their attendance and book, in advance, a place in the crèche should they need to bring a child or children. If you do not book in advance, we may not be able to accommodate your child.
Location: Central Barking
Group dates 2012-2013:
- Monday 16th January 2012
- Monday 12th March
- Monday 16th April
- Monday 11th June
- Monday 13th August
- Monday 8th October
- Monday 12th November
- Monday 11th February 2013
For information regarding group session dates, plus further details on the topics, telephone Jane Tungana on 020 7791 2855 or email jane.tungana@positiveeast.org.uk.
l’ Equipe Africaine offre des conseils et soutien la Communauté Africaine vivant à l’Est de Londres.
Notre Organisation, Positive East, offre une variété de services appropriés aux hommes et femmes d'origine Africaine affectés par le VIH vivant à l'Est de Londres. Le but de notre groupe est de faciliter des rencontres amicales dans un environnement convivial et confidentiel aux personnes affectées par le virus de VIH afin de recevoir des informations récentes sur leur santé et d'apprendre à mieux gérer la maladie. En outre, le groupe offre un soutien mutuel pour combattre l'isolement.
Chaque 1er Vendredi du mois, de 12 heures à 16 heures.
Auprès de: Tower Hamlets.
Note: Date et sujets du groupe pourrait changer.
Dates: for 2012:
- Friday 6th January 2012 - Consultation session
- Friday 3rd February - Relaxation
- Friday 2nd March - Memory Book
- Friday 20th April - Family Tree workshop
- Friday 4th May
- Friday 1st June
- Friday 6th July - HIV update
- Friday 7th September
- Friday 5th October
- Friday 2nd November
Pour plus d’informations sur le Groupe, veuillez contacter Henriette Shulungu en 020 7791 2855 ou henriette.shulungu@positiveeast.org.uk.
Hackney African Support Group
Positive East's group for Africans living with HIV+, who either live or access HIV services within Hackney or Waltham Forest.
Meeting once every two months on the second Monday of the month, from 6.00pm sharp to 8.30pm. The group will aim to provide a mix of mutual support, education and social activities to help to move people from crisis to independence. Please confirm if you would like to attend.
Dates of sessions: 2012
- Monday 13th February
- Monday 16th April
- Monday 11th June
- Monday 13th August
- Monday 8th October
For information about the group, plus further details on the topics, telephone Ceasar Kalema on 020 7791 2855 or email ceasar.kalema@positiveeast.org.uk.
Karibu - Redbridge Family Support Group
The Redbridge African Family support group also called Karibu (Swahili for 'Welcome'), is an exciting and creative mixed group. Join us and meet fellow African members in a safe, supporting, cultural and confidential environment. The group aims to help overcome and fight issues of isolation, by encouraging and empowering clients to speak up for themselves with social support networks, plus providing up to date news and information to help living with HIV.
The group provides a safe place to speak freely in a confidential environment, to meet friends and have fun while discussing and sharing sensitive issues which is open to both men and women living with HIV in Redbridge area.
Karibu is a family support group, so we welcome parents bringing their children. While we provide a crèche, if you are bringing your child/children you must confirm their attendance to book a place in the crèche. Places in the crèche are limited, failure to pre-book a place will mean we may be unable to accommodate your child.
Location: central Ilford.
Dates for 2012:
- Tuesday 17th January 2012
- Tuesday 20th March
- Tuesday 15th May
- Tuesday 17th July
- Tuesday 18th September
- Tuesday 20th November
For information regarding group session dates, plus further details on the topics, telephone Henriette Shulungu on 020 7791 2855 or email henriette.shulungu@positiveeast.org.uk.
New Beginnings
African? Living with or affected by HIV
New Beginnings is a support group for Africans, were we meet once every 2 months, covering topics with affect Africans living with HIV. We also provide a crèche (places to be pre-booked) as well as refreshments in a confidential setting in east London.
This a mixed group of African men and women living in all East London boroughs and is aimed at reducing isolation and providing support for people infected and affected by HIV. It is a safe space to meet, share experiences and explore feelings around living with HIV focusing on issues affecting Africans. We follow a strict code of confidentiality.
While the service is free, members have the responsibility to confirm their attendance and book in advance a place in the crèche should they need to bring children. If you do not book in advance, we may not be able to accommodate your child.
Location: central Tower Hamlets.
Dates of meeting 2012:
- Tuesday 10th January 2012
- Tuesday 6th March
- Tuesday 8th May
- Tuesday 3rd July
- Tuesday 4th September
- Tuesday 6th November
For information regarding group session dates, plus further details on the topics, telephone Caesar Kalema on 020 7791 2855 or email caesar.kalema@positiveeast.org.uk.
Positive Life
Positive Life is an activities group run by and for HIV positive gay/MSM men providing a mix of social and health promotion activities. Meeting at the Positive East Stepney Centre, the group is open to all positive gay men, bisexual men and men who do not identify as gay, embracing men from all ethnic backgrounds.
- It aims to help HIV positive MSM to develop a new social network with other HIV positive MSM;
- Share knowledge about HIV and its treatments;
- Obtain and provide peer support with other HIV positive MSM.
The group is not a closed a group, so you can come to any session you like. However we encourage you to attend as many as possible to benefit from the group activities.
We meet once a fortnight on Wednesdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, refer to the Positive Life date entries on the Events calendar for specific group activities.
Location: Positive East Stepney, 159 Mile End Road, London E1 4AQ
For information regarding group session dates, plus further details on the topics, telephone Positive Life on 020 7791 2855 or email positivelife@positiveeast.org.uk.
Route 15 - Newham
To reduce isolation and provide support for a mixed group of African men and women, provide a safe space to meet, share experiences and explore feelings around living with HIV focusing on issues affecting Africans, empower clients to identify assert their needs, facilitated workshops and information sessions, advocacy, research. The group meets usually on the third Monday of the month (see schedule in information sheet below for details), from 11.00am sharp to 2.45pm.
Location: Plaistow, E13
Note: Topics of the group might change.
For information regarding group session dates, plus further details on the topics, telephone Resty Mulemwa on 020 7791 2855 or email resty.mulemwa@positiveeast.org.uk.
