Body and Soul
It is estimated that 100,000 people in the UK are currently living with, or closely affected by, HIV. This includes thousands of teenagers, who can find their situation – and the stigma still attached to it – particularly challenging. On top of everything else, this can often affect their studies at school, leaving them badly prepared for adult life.
Body & Soul supports families and children living with HIV. Its weekly Teen Spirit programme includes study support staffed by qualified teachers (including Teach First volunteers) at its north London base. With SHINE funding, Body & Soul is putting some of this programme online to reach more young people. We hope that this award-winning charity will now become better able to nurture not just the body and soul of teenagers affected by HIV, but their minds as well.
The grant recipient
Body and Soul is a registered charity established in 1996. It provides support, advocacy, information and programmes to children, teenagers and families living with or closely affected by HIV.
Teen Spirit
What it aims to do
- provide educational support to around 60 13-19 year olds affected by, or living with HIV
- run workshops on general educational and health issues
How it works
Teen Spirit gives teenagers affected in some way by HIV space to socialise and access a range of services. Teen Spirit runs throughout the week but is focused on Thursday evenings when the centre provides a meal and study support from qualified teachers.
Initial results
A recent Teen Spirit member survey found that:
- c.90% reported improved school confidence
- c.80% felt less alone in dealing with HIV
The funding
SHINE has made a grant to enable Body and Soul to put its academic support programme online and also to design and carry out a skills audit. This should help the organisation to assess more accurately what academic support the teenagers need and what difference the programme is making.
Funding: £25,464 to Body and Soul, over one year (2010-11)
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