Positive East

Qigong Exercise
2026-03-18 15:15 - 16:00, 2026-03-11 15:15 - 16:00, 2026-03-04 15:15 - 16:00, 2026-02-25 15:15 - 16:00 UTC | 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

Mindfulness meditation
2026-03-17 17:00 - 17:30, 2026-03-13 12:30 - 13:00, 2026-03-10 17:00 - 17:30, 2026-03-06 12:30 - 13:00, 2026-03-03 17:00 - 17:30, 2026-02-27 12:30 - 13:00, 2026-02-24 17:00 - 17:30, 2026-02-20 12:30 - 13:00
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

Foodcycle Stepney Green
2026-03-16 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-09 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-02 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-23 13:00 - 15:00
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

International Women's Day Event: My Health, My Voice Day
2026-03-14 13:30 - 17:00
Please join Positive East’s Project Community, Pathway Foundation and I Found Me as we celebrate International Women’s Day.
This event will focus on women’s health across all stages of life, including menstrual health, maternity, and menopause. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet health professionals such as Dr Nneka Nwokolo and Dr Diana Medina, gain valuable insights, and feel empowered to use their voice when it comes to health and wellbeing.
Special Feature – Fashion Show
Dress up and express what being a woman means to you.
Prizes will be awarded for the best outfit.
Limited spots available – first come, first served.
Event Details
Date: Saturday 14th March 2026
Time: 1:30pm – 5:00pm
Venue: Morningside Community Centre
Cresset Road, London E9 5SJ, Hackney
You can sign up for the event through Eventbrite

For more information contact: Euriza.Mata@PositiveEast.org.uk

Together Group: Relationships
2026-03-11 18:00 - 20:00
Together is our social and support group for anyone living with HIV. This group is for you if you are HIV positive and either live in East London or get your HIV care in an East London clinic. It usually meets on the second Wednesday evening of each month, but this day and time may vary especially for visits out, so its best to check these listing regularly. There’ll be food served around 6.15. with the activities beginning around 6.45
This month, we’re taking a light-hearted look at relationships, and how different or similar are our expectations about a relationship. What do we expect from a partner? What do we expect from ourselves? And is is really true that men’s and women’s wants, needs, and expectations are so very different? We’ll be expertly guided – and perhaps refereed – once again by Rebecca Mbewe.
If travel or care costs are a barrier to taking part, please let us know in advance.
For more information, or to tell us you’re coming, contact Sarah.Boum-Enock@positiveeast.org.uk

Ear Acupuncture
2026-03-11 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-03-04 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-02-25 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

Positive Over 50: Lunch
2026-03-05 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

Wellbeing Matters: Later-life planning
2026-03-05 12:00 - 15:00
Wellbeing Matters is our occasional series of information events focused around health & wellbeing issues for people living with HIV. Usually, the topics are ones that are of particular concern to older people living with HIV, but Wellbeing Matters are open to HIV+ people of any age – because after all, we can now expect to live well into old age.
This time we’re having a focus on later-life and end-of-life planning, with Mimi Henderson, one of the clinical psychologists working in Tower Hamlets Community Psychology in End of Life Care (Barts Health) alongside the community palliative care team at St Joseph’s Hospice.
We’ll also have news of a new series of wellbeing workshops for people with HIV aged 60 and over, starting in April, in collaboration with Globe Community Project
If travel costs are a barrier to you coming along, let us know in advance
For more information contact mina.kakaiya@positiveeast.org.uk

Bodywork Physiotherapy
2026-03-05 11:00 - 13:00
We’re excited to start a new service here at Positive East. To begin with, it will be available for two hours on the first Thursday of the month and will operate on a drop-in, first come, first served basis rather than booked appointments.
Bodywork – Pain and Mobility Management Service at Positive East
Bodywork is a holistic, hands-on approach to help people who want to move better, reduce pain or just relax. It combines physiotherapy, osteopathy and massage to relax your muscles, joints and promote the body’s natural self healing.
Treatments are outcome-based, which means all initial appointments include a short consultation to discuss your condition and your goals.
This service is led by Blake (BSc Physio, MCSP) who is a musculo-skeletal physiotherapist, with a special interest in chronic pain and spinal dysfunction. He has extensive experience working with HIV associated conditions, having previously led the Physiotherapy service at Mildmay UK
Ask any of the peer support staff about this new service

Learn My Way – Digital skills sessions
2026-03-04 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.
Note: The planned session for 25th February has had to be postponed, so we’ve added an extra session on 4th March. We’ll resume Digital Skills sessions in May 2026
For more information, contact Mel.Rattue@positiveeast.org.uk

March Calendar
2026-03-01 08:00 - 17:00

Kew Gardens – Orchid Festival
2026-02-28 12:00 - 15:30
What better way to celebrate the (almost) start of Spring than getting out and about to the beautiful Kew Gardens, plus an opportunity to enjoy their annual Orchid Festival inside the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

The 2026 Orchid Festival celebrates the flora and fauna of China

Festival will feature beautiful horticultural displays across the glasshouse

We’ve been given a limited number of free tickets. Please contact Nick in advance if you want to come along. Depending on numbers interested, we may be able to extend the offer to 1 guest per person. This visit is open to anyone registered with Positive East
If travel or care costs are a barrier to taking part, you need to let us know in advance. See here for details of eligibility
For more information, or to tell us you’re coming, contact Nick Maxwell nick.maxwell@positiveeast.org.uk or call 020 7791 9302

Women's Group: Taking part in research
2026-02-25 18:00 - 20:00
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.
Food will be served around 6.15pm, and the activities from around 6.45pm.
This month, we’re taking a look at the pros, cons and practicalities of taking part in research, with Rebecca Mbewe making a welcome return visit to lead and facilitate discussions. Increasing opportunities for women with HIV to get involved in research was one the issues raised back in the Women’s Group’s September session, so we’ll be looking into it in more detail tonight. We’ll also be joined by Renee West, Positive East’s Research and Insight Manager.
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 Mel.Rattue@positiveeast.org.uk

Gym Induction for new gym users
2026-02-25 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.

Art workshop: London memories - Session 2
2026-02-23 14:00 - 16:00
Join us for this series of 3 art workshops with artist and HIV activist Hera Santos. These workshops are inspired by the workshop we held as part of the Mayor’s Community Weekend in September, which was really well attended and people enjoyed so much it over-ran.
All three workshops will run on Monday afternoons, with a gap in between each session for you to continue work on your own if you wish. The 2nd session is on 9th February, and the 3rd one on 23rd February.
The first session planned for 26th January has been postponed, so the first one is now 9th February, the second on 23rd February. We’ll confirm the date of the new 3rd session as soon as it has been arranged
You can join for one or all three of these workshops – in which Hera will invite you to match a location with a memory (it could be London, or anywhere in the world) and reflect on ways to represent your memories using a variety of methods
Contact jack.summerside@positiveeast.org.uk for more information or to register your interest
