Positive East

Foodcycle Stepney Green
2025-11-24 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-01 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-08 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-15 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-22 13:00 - 15:00 UTC
Every Monday we welcome FoodCycle’s volunteers to use our kitchen and our cafe area to provide a delicious hot lunch. This is open to anyone living with HIV across London. By cooking with surplus ingredients, they promote healthy, sustainable attitudes towards food and its impact on the environment, and help people to learn more about healthy food.
Lunch is usually served shortly after 1pm. Lunch is served to your table by FoodCycle volunteers, so you’ll need to arrive by 1pm.
For more information, visit FoodCycle Stepney Green If you’d like to come along, contact FoodCycle stepneygreen@foodcycle.org.uk

Mindfulness meditation
2025-11-25 17:00 - 17:30, 2025-11-28 12:30 - 13:00, 2025-12-02 17:00 - 17:30, 2025-12-05 12:30 - 13:00, 2025-12-09 17:00 - 17:30, 2025-12-12 12:30 - 13:00, 2025-12-16 17:00 - 17:30
Everybody needs a little time away from the everyday stresses and strains of life. Twice a week, Andre Smith – Positive East’s Counselling Co-ordinator – leads a 30 minute online mindfulness meditation session.
These usually run twice every week on:

Tuesdays at 5pm
Fridays at 12.30pm

For more information on how to join, please email Andre at andre.smith@positiveeast.org.uk

Qigong Exercise
2025-11-26 15:15 - 16:00, 2025-12-03 15:15 - 16:00, 2025-12-10 15:15 - 16:00, 2025-12-17 15:15 - 16:00 | Positive East, 159 Mile End Road, London, E1 4AQ, United Kingdom
Qigong, pronounced “chi gong,” was developed in China thousands of years ago as part of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being.
The sessions are led by Truus Jansen. They are informal sessions, so you don’t currently need to book, although it’s helpful if you can let us know in advance that you intend to come along as the sessions could become very popular. You’re advised to wear loose comfortable clothing.
For more information, or to tell us you’re coming contact mina.kakaiya@positiveeast.org.uk

Gym Induction for new gym users
2025-11-26 16:00 - 18:00
Did you know we have a fully equipped spacious gym on our lower ground floor, with changing rooms, showers and lockers. It’s free, friendly, fun, and the perfect way to start your way to a fitter, healthier you.
To use the gym, you need to be eligible (living or getting your HIV care in East London), and have registered to use our services. Also, it’s essential that you first have an induction session to assess your needs and show you how to use the equipment safely and effectively.
Induction sessions are usually on the last Wednesday of each month, at 4pm and 5pm. If you’ve previously had a gym induction but it was a while ago, or just want a refresher, you can book for these too. You also need to bring suitable exercise clothing to wear for your induction, or you won’t be able to have your induction.
Contact our Reception on our main number 020 7791 2855 to book your induction.

Ear Acupuncture
2025-11-26 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-12-03 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-12-10 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-12-17 16:30 - 17:30 | Positive East, 159 Mile End Road, London, E1 4AQ, United Kingdom
Ear acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that involves very fine needles being placed in various points of your outer ear. Many people have found it can help with a variety of health issues, include sleep, pain management, nausea and stomach problems, relieving stress and anxiety.
The sessions are led by Truus Jansen. They are informal sessions which take place in a group environment. You don’t currently need to book, although it’s helpful if you can let us know in advance that you intend to come along as the sessions could become very popular. As you need to sit quietly once the treatment has begun for around half an hour, the last admittance to the session is 5.15 pm
For more information, or to tell us you’re coming contact mina.kakaiya@positiveeast.org.uk

Women's Group - What Women Need
2025-11-26 18:00 - 20:00
This month we’re delighted to welcome back Rebecca Mbewe – mentor, speaker and trainer with long standing experience of working in HIV and lived experience of living well with HIV for over 20 years – to guest host a follow up to our September session about What Women Want. This month we’ll be taking a deep dive into What Women Need – exploring the difference between wants and needs, and how those needs can best be met.
Our Women’s Group is a regular social and support group for women living with HIV who either live in East London or if you get your HIV care in an East London clinic. It usually meet on the 4th Wednesday evening of each month, but this day and time may vary especially for visits out, so its best to check these listing regularly.
If travel or care costs are a barrier to taking part, let us know in advance.
For more information, or to tell us you’re coming, contact Sarah.Boum-Enock by email on sarah.boum-enock@positiveeast.org.uk or call 020 7791 9341

World AIDS Day event at Goldsmiths
2025-11-26 18:30 - 20:30
Join us for an evening of art, activism, and community dialogue!
Creation and HIV: A Contagious Practice is a pre-event for World AIDS Day, blending art, activism, and community dialogue.
📅 Date & Time: Wednesday, 26 November, 6:30 PM
📍 Venue: Goldsmiths, University of London – ROOM TO BE CONFIRMED (details will be emailed)
🎟 Reserve up to 3 free tickets here: Eventbrite Link
The evening will feature:

Dramatised reading of short plays written by people living with HIV at Positive East, created during a theatre and creative writing workshop led by activist-researcher Diego Agurto (@diagurto). Professional performers will bring these stories to life.
Talk by Dan Glass (@danglassmincer), pioneer in performance activism and LGBTQ+ rights campaigns, co-founder of ACT UP London, and author of United Queerdom and Queer Footprints.
Short film screening: “Saintmaking”, a documentary exploring the radical legacy of Derek Jarman, introduced by Krzysztof Dubicki (@sissy_krissy87), queer film curator and activist, facilitator of the Queer Film Club for Queer Migrants & Queer People of Colour in collaboration with The Love Tank (@thelovetankcic).
Closing conversation with drinks and food, facilitated by Diego Agurto (@diagurto) and Valentina López (@vale.lopmon).

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible venue, gender-neutral toilets.
Organised by Living Museum of Emotional Archives of HIV (@e.archives.hiv).
Click here to register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creation-and-hiv-a-contagious-practices-tickets-1923313164449?aff=oddtdtcreator

World AIDS Day
2025-12-01
December the first is World AIDS Day
Positive East staff and volunteers will be out and about all over the East London Boroughs we serve, promoting HIV testing, raising awareness, challenging HIV stigma, and telling people about our Health & Wellbeing services – as well as our award-winning specialist Advice services – for people living with HIV

World AIDS Day Symposium at the Francis Crick Institute
2025-12-02 17:00 - 20:30
Positive East will be taking part in this year’s World AIDS Day symposium “Living with HIV” at the Francis Crick Institute, with a display of our work and with our Head of Health & Wellbeing Jack Summerside taking part in the panel discussion
For details and to book a place
https://www.crick.ac.uk/whats-on/world-aids-day-2025-living-with-hiv

Learn My Way - Digital skills sessions
2025-12-03 14:30 - 16:30
We’ve partnered with the Good Things Foundation to help you gain confidence and skills in using computers. Digital skills & confidence are the foundation of being digitally included. These days you need to know how to use the internet or technology to use public services, work or stay in touch with loved ones.
We’ll be using Good Things Foundation’s Learn My Way resources on their free online platform that helps people gain basic digital skills and build confidence in using the internet. You’ll learn at your own pace, and build on a range of practical online skills across a range of essential topics. You can find out more here
We’ll be guided by Robert Halpin, Progression Coach from Providence Row, who has lots of experience in supporting people using Learn My Way.
We’ve also partnered with Good Things Foundation’s Device Bank and Data Bank. They’ve donated us some data SIM cards and laptops to us, so if you’d be interested in receiving free data, and/or a laptop, let us know. These are limited and we’d need to make sure they go to those with the greatest need. Get in touch if you’d like a device (laptop) and/or a data SIM.
For more information, or to book a place, contact Mel.Rattue@positiveeast.org.uk

Positive Over 50: Lunch
2025-12-04 13:00 - 15:00
Our monthly lunch group for people living with HIV who either live in any of the East London Boroughs, or get your HIV care an an East London clinic. Usually on the first Thursday afternoon of the month, the January lunch is a week later than usual because of the New Year holidays.
Join us for a tasty, freshly prepared lunch provided by our colleagues from Food Chain. Stay and engage in one of our discussion topics, hear from guest speakers, or join in one of our Positive Over 50: Out And About trips to places of interest. Or stay and join in the conversation with old friends and new.
For more information contact mina.kakaiya@positiveeast.org.uk

Positive Over 50: Out and About - Winter Past at Museum of the Home
2025-12-04 15:00 - 17:00
Join us for another of our Positive Over 50: Out and About activities, this time its a visit to the Museum of the Home’s Winter Past. Their Rooms Through Time have been transformed for the festive season, so come along and get in the holiday mood and discover the homes and traditions of winters past, present and future.
We’ve arranged a guided tour from one of the museum’s curators. If travel costs are a barrier to you coming along, talk to us ahead of the visit and let us know.
We’ll be setting off from Positive East after the festive Positive Over 50 Lunch shortly after 2pm, or you can meet us there at the Museum
For more information contact Mina on 020 7791 9301 or by email at mina.kakaiya@positiveeast.org.uk

Winter Wellbeing: Flu vaccines and sexual health testing
2025-12-10 11:00 - 14:00
With the support of Woodgrange Medical Practice, we’ll be offering flu vaccinations, confidential sexual health advice, sexual health testing, and general health checkups here at Positive East
Open to all Positive East registered clients – or those eligible to be, as well as to staff and volunteers.
No need to book, just drop in anytime between 11am and 2pm

Winter Celebration
2025-12-11 16:00 - 19:00
Our social and support groups Together, Rainbow Men and Women’s Group are all taking a break in December, and everyone is welcomed to celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Yuletide, the Winter Solstice, or whatever you celebrate at this time of year at our annual festive Winter Celebration.
Our Winter Celebration is open to anyone registered to use Positive East services, or eligible to (HIV positive, and either live in any of the East London Boroughs, or get your HIV treatment in any of the East London clinics).
There’ll be tasty hot food from our friends at Food Chain served around 5.15pm, festive music, a glass of wine or beer or a soft drink, a free raffle with a choice of prizes, plus some goody bags for the children.

Children are welcome, though they will need to remain under your supervision at all times.
If travel costs are a barrier, speak to us ahead of the day.
If you are in financial hardship, talk to any of the Health & Wellbeing or Advice Team staff

It helps us to plan for catering numbers if you could let us know you want to come. Please let Mina.Kakaiya@positiveeast.org.uk know
